Brookline High-Jumper Has Eyes on Olympic Dream

Corey Thomas has had a dream to don the red, white and blue Olympic uniform since he was in the third grade.

If last month's USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships is any indication of how realistic that dream may be, then Brookline may see one of its own competing for the country in the not too distant future.

Thomas placed fourth in the high jump with a jump of 7 feet 1.5 inches to break a Stonehill College school record — and personal outdoor record — and give him hope for a future run at the Olympic Games.

"That experience was something that I really needed in my life right now because from that I just want to go to the Olympics now," said Thomas, who just completed his freshman year at Stonehill. "That was a mini Olympics … I really want it. I can hang with a couple of those guys."

The event, which was held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, featured the best 14- to 20-year-old track and field athletes in the United States. Thomas competed in the Junior Indoors, so the nerves of competing were only somewhat still with him this time around.

"It was just like another meet to me, but when I actually got there it was a whole other story, said Thomas, who is studying criminal justice at Stonehill and striving to become a FBI agent. "I knew what was going to happen, so I just had to keep my composure."

Thomas' highest career jump is 7 feet 2.25 inches, but he believes he can go above and beyond his personal best.

"I know I can definitely go higher because I'm always just missing," he said. "I know it's there I just got to keep working at it."

The Brookline native also runs the 110 meter hurdle, the 400 meter hurdle and runs on the 4X400 team, but his bread and butter is the high jump. That will be the event that can help him reach his goal, and from here on out he said he is going to strive for that.

"I can definitely see myself in the Olympics wearing the USA uniform," he said. "That's what I'm working for right now."

"It's that one more step," he added. "It's really got me going and driving."