Thompson was a 5K NCAA indoor qualifier and 5K Great Midwest champ a year ago and she competed unattached in a handful of cross country events during the most recent fall season.
Already owning the conference meet record, Thompson carved out one of the league’s best times with a new PR of 16:43.68 at the Grand Valley State Holiday Open.
Thompson’s new best ranks third all-time in Great Midwest only behind former Hillsdale All-American Hannah McIntyre.
Thompson ran against a handful of Division I student-athletes in Allendale. She finished ninth in the field of 54 total racers and the winning time was from Sydney Meyers of Eastern Michigan.
Thompson provisionally qualified for nationals in the new calendar year and her 5K standard currently ranks third in all of NCAA Division II only behind Mount Olive’s Leah Hanle and Grand Valley State’s Hanna Groeber.