WPU Track and Field Signs Battleground HS Standout Trent Thompson for Spring 2020 Competition
R.D.
Trent Thompson, a 2019 graduate from Battleground HS in Battleground, Washington has signed with Warner Pacific University Track and Field and will be competing for the Knights this spring. Thompson was both a conference and district champion in the javelin and also finished 3
rd at the WA State 4A meet last spring. He has a personal best of 191' 4", which he threw at the Washington State Championships last May.
"We are very excited to add Trent to our men's track and field program at Warner Pacific University! He is a great student, a highly competitive athlete, and a great fit for our school culture and environment. He is one of the top javelin throwers in the region and should be highly competitive right away as a college athlete," said Head Coach
Randy Dalzell.
Thompson improved rapidly during his senior track season, going from a 163' thrower his junior year to over 190' by the end of his senior year. He gives most of the credit for that to Coach Scott Halley, who he had the opportunity work with leading up to his senior track season. The opportunity to stay close to home and keep working with Coach Halley were a big factor in choosing Warner Pacific.
"Throwing at Warner Pacific University gives my family the chance to come watch and support me at local competitions, as well as further my education. It also allows me to continue to train with Coach Halley, which has been so important for my development in the sport," said Thompson.
Coach Halley, who threw for Coach Dalzell at Concordia University in Portland, has a long and distinguished list of accomplishments as both an athlete and coach in the javelin. Halley was the NAIA National Champion his senior year with a throw of 235' 9" as well as the Stanford Invitational Champion. He holds the all-time conference record as well as the championship meet record in the event. As a coach, he has coached a number of collegiate and high school champions and All-Americans and continually develops new talented throwers of all ages.
"We couldn't have a better guy for Trent and our other javelin throwers to work with than Scott," said Coach Dalzell. "His attention to detail and analysis of the event are second to none. He really knows how to develop an athlete from top to bottom, meaning that he gets the mental part and the physical part and how to put them both together for maximal performance and health."
The Knights, who have already qualified two athletes for the NAIA Indoor Championships and will compete in all the indoor events through January and February leading up to the indoor championships in early March, then go right into their outdoor season in March, giving their javelin throwers the first chance to compete since it is an outdoor track event only.