University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Meet the Newcomers: Maddie Thompson
10/17/2019 9:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
Get to know Gophers freshman Maddie Thompson, a distance runner from Sun Prairie, Wis.
MINNEAPOLIS - From Sun Prairie, Wis., freshman Maddie Thompson joins the Maroon & Gold as a distance runner for the cross country and track & field program. Thompson shares why she chose the University of Minnesota, how running is 'in her blood', lessons she has learned from injuries, and more.
Gopher Sports: How did you first get into running?
Maddie Thompson: I got into running when I was really young. My dad would enter me into road race 5Ks that we would run as a family. I tried a lot of sports growing up and found that I really liked soccer, so I did running and soccer all throughout my school career.
GS: You said your family would do 5Ks together; how many siblings do you have?
MT: I have two younger sisters who are 16 and 12. They're both runners, too.
GS: Would you say running is a family thing for you?
MT: My dad ran in high school, and my mom played soccer in high school. They both enjoyed running, so they stuck with it.
GS: When did you realize that running was something you could pursue at a high level in college?
MT: I started running because I loved it, and when I first started, I never thought I could run in college; I did it because I had love for the sport. So towards the end of my sophomore track season, I started to look into running in college and got excited about it.
GS: What was it about running that drew you in?
MT: I liked the lifestyle. You commit to bettering yourself each day, even if it's only a small amount. You also can see the little things you do over time accumulate to a big change, which I think is really gratifying.
GS: What was it about the University of Minnesota that made you come here?
MT: I want to go into business or law after college, so being in the city was a really big draw for the opportunities available. I also loved the atmosphere of the team; everyone seems like a family and wants to build each other up, which I really love. I love the coaching staff as well, so it was easy for me to see myself being successful here.
GS: How did you pick business and law as a field that interests you?
MT: My dad is a lawyer, so I got a lot of interest from that. I also really enjoy writing, so I want a job where I can directly help people by doing that.
GS: What was your high school running experience like?
MT: I really started focusing on running my sophomore year of high school. I started training hard in the winter and saw a huge jump in my success as a runner from doing that, so I wanted to keep doing that. I've faced some injuries along the way, but it hasn't stopped me yet.
GS: Was there a turning point in your running point in your career thus far?
MT: I've dealt with hamstring and Achilles problems in the past, and while that was really tough, it always taught me something. You learn about yourself in the process of recovery. Now I think I'm more mentally tough and able to detach myself from the injury. I also saw the importance of cross-training while being injured. Being injured ignites your fire more, because you can't run, so when you can run again, you love it even more.
GS: What was your first impression of the team here?
MT: The first time I met the girls, they were so welcoming. I could tell that they all cared about each other and wanted everyone to be the best they could be.
GS: Do you know what you want to major in?
MT: I'm in the Carlson School of Management right now, and I think I'm going to major in accounting and finance with a business law minor. I'd like to go to law school after graduation.
GS: What are you most excited about starting college?
MT: I'm excited to be a part of the team obviously, but I'm also excited to meet more people who are interested in the same things I'm interested in and going into specific parts of my interests, like higher-level business classes to further my future career.
GS: Do you consider yourself more of a track or a cross country runner?
MT: Personally, I like track more, because of the hype surrounding it and the fact that everyone watches you race around a singular track.
GS: What's your favorite distance to race?
MT: The mile. I feel like it's the perfect distance to be intentional with your moves, but you also get to be fast.
###
Gopher Sports: How did you first get into running?
Maddie Thompson: I got into running when I was really young. My dad would enter me into road race 5Ks that we would run as a family. I tried a lot of sports growing up and found that I really liked soccer, so I did running and soccer all throughout my school career.
GS: You said your family would do 5Ks together; how many siblings do you have?
MT: I have two younger sisters who are 16 and 12. They're both runners, too.
GS: Would you say running is a family thing for you?
MT: My dad ran in high school, and my mom played soccer in high school. They both enjoyed running, so they stuck with it.
GS: When did you realize that running was something you could pursue at a high level in college?
MT: I started running because I loved it, and when I first started, I never thought I could run in college; I did it because I had love for the sport. So towards the end of my sophomore track season, I started to look into running in college and got excited about it.
GS: What was it about running that drew you in?
MT: I liked the lifestyle. You commit to bettering yourself each day, even if it's only a small amount. You also can see the little things you do over time accumulate to a big change, which I think is really gratifying.
GS: What was it about the University of Minnesota that made you come here?
MT: I want to go into business or law after college, so being in the city was a really big draw for the opportunities available. I also loved the atmosphere of the team; everyone seems like a family and wants to build each other up, which I really love. I love the coaching staff as well, so it was easy for me to see myself being successful here.
GS: How did you pick business and law as a field that interests you?
MT: My dad is a lawyer, so I got a lot of interest from that. I also really enjoy writing, so I want a job where I can directly help people by doing that.
GS: What was your high school running experience like?
MT: I really started focusing on running my sophomore year of high school. I started training hard in the winter and saw a huge jump in my success as a runner from doing that, so I wanted to keep doing that. I've faced some injuries along the way, but it hasn't stopped me yet.
GS: Was there a turning point in your running point in your career thus far?
MT: I've dealt with hamstring and Achilles problems in the past, and while that was really tough, it always taught me something. You learn about yourself in the process of recovery. Now I think I'm more mentally tough and able to detach myself from the injury. I also saw the importance of cross-training while being injured. Being injured ignites your fire more, because you can't run, so when you can run again, you love it even more.
GS: What was your first impression of the team here?
MT: The first time I met the girls, they were so welcoming. I could tell that they all cared about each other and wanted everyone to be the best they could be.
GS: Do you know what you want to major in?
MT: I'm in the Carlson School of Management right now, and I think I'm going to major in accounting and finance with a business law minor. I'd like to go to law school after graduation.
GS: What are you most excited about starting college?
MT: I'm excited to be a part of the team obviously, but I'm also excited to meet more people who are interested in the same things I'm interested in and going into specific parts of my interests, like higher-level business classes to further my future career.
GS: Do you consider yourself more of a track or a cross country runner?
MT: Personally, I like track more, because of the hype surrounding it and the fact that everyone watches you race around a singular track.
GS: What's your favorite distance to race?
MT: The mile. I feel like it's the perfect distance to be intentional with your moves, but you also get to be fast.
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