The best journeys often start with a simple choice—and for Clayton Thompson, it began when a friend convinced him to try something new. “I play football and run track,” said the Stigler High School sophomore. “I started in track in eighth grade when my friend wanted to join, so I decided to give it a try, and I wanted to get faster. My friend ended up quitting, but I really liked it.”
Clayton, known for his impressive size and surprising speed, quickly found his rhythm on the track. “I really like working on my running skills, and I really loved that people were surprised by my speed because I’m so big,” he said.
This season, however, has come with challenges. “My goals for track this year were to be faster than last year and improve on shot put,” he explained. “But I hurt my hamstring at the beginning of the season and have not been able to compete this season. I was really hoping I would be able to compete by the end of the track season, but I’m just not sure that will happen.”
Despite the setback, Clayton has already had memorable moments in his young career. “When I threw the shot out 45 feet—it was my personal best,” he said.
Looking ahead, Clayton sees a future filled with opportunity. “I hope to be in college or culinary school,” he shared. “I love football and would like to play through college and see where that takes me, but my ultimate goal is to be a successful chef or baker.”
Community plays a huge role in Clayton’s journey. “We see a lot of community support for football, but track doesn’t seem to get as much recognition,” he said. “Stigler’s track team numbers had gone down, but they are starting to come back up, so I hope the community starts to support it a little more. I really love having my family there to support me and encourage me no matter what sport I play.”
And when it comes to who he admires most? “I look up to my brothers and sister. They have great advice since they were all involved in sports. Of course, my goals are to be faster and lift more than my brothers!”
