The new director of Columbia International University’s track and field and cross country programs carries some solid credentials.

Tim Thompson comes to CIU by way of Southwestern College (Kansas), where for the past two seasons the Moundbuilders produced 10 NAIA All-Americans, 35 NAIA National Qualifiers, and 38 All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) performers. On top of these accolades, the Moundbuilders set 16 new school records and a KCAC conference record.

Thompson has also been an assistant coach in NCAA Division I at Arkansas State University.

In college, Thompson competed for the University of Texas-Arlington from 2006-2009, where he was a five-time All-Southland Conference performer.

Thompson replaces Coach Jud Brooker, who built CIU’s first intercollegiate cross country and track and field programs beginning in 2012. Today Brooker is the elementary school PE teacher at Ben Lippen School, a ministry of CIU.

"Thanks to the foundation set by Jud Brooker combined with our world-class track facility, I believe this hire can make CIU one of the premier destinations for some of the best track and field talent in the state and the Southeast,” said CIU Athletics Director Darren Ritchie.

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