RENO, Nev. – Nevada track and cross country have officially signed Marisha Thompson, a transfer out of Toledo, and Ontario native, to a National Letter of Intent, announced Wednesday.
 
Thompson, a former standout athlete at Norwood District High School in Ontario, Canada, will bring added depth to the steeplechase event. She obtained a time of 6:50 in the 2K steeplechase, only three seconds shy of Nevada school record holder Emily Myers (6:47.10, 2017)
 
The seven-time Central Ontario Secondary Schools Association (COSSA) gold medalist represented team Ontario for two consecutive years, going on to finish second at nationals with team Ontario in the 1.5K. Thompson also represented the Kawartha Lakes Lightning Running Club after winning her first medal at COSSA, while placing second and third in consecutive years in the U20 division at the Ontario cross country championships.
 
Thompson competed in her freshman season at FAU (2019-2020), where she had impressive performances during the cross country and indoor track seasons. Thompson earned a 20^th place finish at the 2020 C-USA XC Championships in the 6K, with a personal record time of 22:31.67. With this time, Thompson will be right in the mix with the top performers of Nevada. Emily Clarke, Marije Hijman, and Paige Penrose have all been at the 22-minute mark or better this season.
 
During the indoor track and field season, Thompson tabbed a C-USA Indoor Track Athlete of the week honor after her performances in her first weekend of collegiate indoor track, where she posted a personal record in the 800m (2:15.84) and the mile (5:03.04). These marks put her in the top-10 all-time program records at FAU.
 
Seeing no competition in the 2021 season at Toledo, Thompson will look to make her debut with both Wolf Pack squads upon her arrival to Reno this spring.