Cross Country | 8/4/2016 1:04:00 PM

SAN FRANCISCO - Two-time NCAA All-American and national champion runner, Travis Thompson, joins the elite Dons' track and field and cross country program as an assistant coach, formally announced today.

Thompson comes to the Dons after spending four seasons at Lane Community College where he most recently served as the associate head coach, and he also added one year at Oregon State as a volunteer assistant in 2015 to his coaching resume.

While at Lane, Thompson helped the squad to men's and women's southern regional team championships in 2013, '14, and '16, and coached 36 junior college all-americans. He also mentored two athletes that qualified for the USA Junior Track & Field Championships (Rubie Cordey and Rashad Swank-Jones). Coupled with his stint with the Beavers, Thompson guided his athletes to 42 top-10 marks in school history and seven school records.

"I am thrilled to welcome Travis to the Hilltop," said USF head coach Helen Lehman-Winters. "Travis has coached in both the PAC-12 and at the community college level, and this combined with his success as an athlete at the University of Oregon provides a unique skill set."

Along with a solid track record as a coach, Thompson enjoyed an illustrious collegiate running career at track & field powerhouse, Oregon. He was tapped as a two-time NCAA All-American, and earned the 2010 national championship in the indoor distance medley relay where he ran the 800m leg.

The two-year captain for the Ducks was a part of two PAC-12 champion teams, and enjoyed three top-five individual performances at the conference meet (4x400m relay: 3rd – '09, 5th – '10; 800 m – 5th – '10). The Oregon squad finished third at the 2010 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with Thompson providing key individual and relay performances.

Thompson holds the second-fastest mark in the indoor 600m at Oregon, and the eight-fastest outdoor mark in the 800m with a time of 1:47.6. Starting his collegiate career at Lane, he won the 2007 NWAACC Championship in the 400m.

After graduating from the Ducks' program with a degree in sociology, Thompson went on to earn his masters in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University-Irvine. Athletically, he continued to round the track, earning a spot at the 2014 USF Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 800m.

"Travis is a bright young coach who understands our program goals and is committed to expanding our roster in the sprints and middle distances," added Lehman-Winters.  "His versatility and enthusiasm were the two factors that stood out in the interview process and we are excited about what he will bring to both our cross and track programs."

The Dons open the cross country season at the 24th San Francisco Invitational on Sept. 3, held annually at San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Park.

*University of Oregon photo credit: Eric Evans