EUGENE – When Pleasant Hill senior sprinter Ryan Thomas crossed the finish line in 12.15 seconds at Hayward Field on Friday, she set a Class 3A state championship record for the girls 100m, besting the record coming into the weekend by more than a tenth of a second.
It was the second time in two days that Thomas had set that particular record, having run 12.17 in her preliminary heat on Thursday. The record made her a two-time state champion in the 100m.
Thomas could have been a four-time state champion, but a torn ACL in her freshman year and injuries sustained from a car accident in her junior year means she “only” has two state titles. Returning to get this one was important to Thomas to show others what perseverance can earn you.
“I really wanted to win to show you can do anything you put your mind to, even going through hard times, or easy times, you can just have fun and run,” Thomas said.
She also battled a stress fracture in her foot that bothered her earlier this season, from which she is now fully recovered. It’s showing in her recent performances.
Winning a state title and setting and resetting a state meet record was quite an accomplishment, but was not even her best performance this year. Thomas’ goal entering this season was to break 12 seconds in the 100m, which she did in last week’s Class 3A Special District 1 Championships by running 11.96.
There was never any doubt for her coach, Kevin Smead, that if Thomas’ body allowed it, she would be back on the track after her injuries. Smead’s daughter, Trinity, played sports with Thomas growing up, so the coach has known her for most of her life.
“She is the most competitive kid I’ve ever met,” Smead said.
Thomas was a star athlete in multiple sports, but had to focus solely on track because of the ACL injury.
“Ryan could have gone and played any sport she wanted to at the next level,” Smead said. “It’s just a blessing that she was able to overcome and just lock into one sport, work very hard at it … and find success.”
Thomas is scheduled to enroll at Division II Western Oregon University in the fall and run track there. The Wolves’ record in the 100m is 11.96, which already is Thomas’ personal best, so she might just keep rewriting record books at the next level.
