Jacob Thomson

Jacob Thomson (born 29 November 1994) is an American professional distance runner. He was an NCAA All-American at the University of Kentucky. Thomson won the 2023 USA Half Marathon Championship. He also competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2020 and 2024.

Early life Thomson grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and attended Holy Cross High School in Covington, Kentucky. There he won 12 state titles, was a two-time Kentucky Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year, and he finished fifth at the 2013 Footlocker National Cross Country Championships. He committed to run at NC State over an offer from the University of Oregon.

After two years at NC State, he transferred to the University of Kentucky. There he earned three NCAA All-American awards, two in the outdoor 10,000 meters and one for the indoor 5,000 meters.

Career After graduating in 2018, Thomson moved to Boston and trained with the BAA. He competed at the 2019 USA Track & Field Championships, placing 11th in the 5000 meters and 14th in the 10,000 meters.

In 2021, Thomson raced the 10,000 meters at the postponed 2020 United States Olympic Trials (track and field). He placed 17th in a time of 28:42. Later that year he moved to Flagstaff, Arizona and transitioned to road racing. Later in the year he took fifth place in the USA 15K Championship and second in the USA 25K Championship.

At the 2024 United States Olympic Trials (marathon) in Orlando, Thomson was unable to finish. He placed sixth at the 2025 USA Marathon Championship in California, which qualified him for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Personal Thomson lives and trains in Flagstaff, Arizona and competes for Under Armour Dark Sky Distance. In the summers he returns to Kentucky and operates Bluegrass Running Camp, a training camp for high school distance runners.