Bart Thomas has track in his genes — and football in his family

Bart's little brother Zach

Bart Thomas — he of the recent M40 pentathlon record — graciously responded to my shameless inquisition. Fortunately, he’s used to torture. He brought me up to date on his career and interests. Born Jan. 30, 1971, Bart grew up in White Deer, TX (pop. 1,100) and was a Texas state champion in pole vault in high school (15-1 at state meet). He ran the deuce in 22.4, long jumped 22-8 and played college football at Texas Tech. He was first team All-SWC safety and Third Team All-American in 1994. He says he and brother Zach were the only siblings in the 83-year history of the Southwest Conference to earn all-conference honors together in same season.  Zach went on to 13-year NFL career and seven Pro Bowls with the Dolphins as a linebacker.

Bart poses with USATF officials at Charlotte, along with his wife, Lesa (far right)


Here’s a mash-up of the rest of his responses:
 

Trained some in mid-90s (after graduating) as decathlete but missed a huge window when Dean Brittainham (personal coach of Olympic dec champ Tomas Dvorak) wanted to train me personally in San Diego for potential Olympic run.  Financially I couldn’t do it with a family, I tore an ACL, and my training just fizzled away like many other potential track athletes I’m sure.  Not that I would have materialized as a Top 3 American Dec but it was definitely a window missed.  A couple years ago, I just got an itch to compete seeing that I could still outperform some of the (middle of the pack) decathletes competing at the Trials.
 
I’m not not competing at nationals or worlds this year.  I have four kids competing all summer in sports so I can only manage to train and compete in the spring. I live in Amarillo, TX.  I am president of Zach’s Club Properties—gyms in Amarillo, Wichita Fall and Lubbock.

I have a beautiful and supportive wife (you always have to mention that) and four kids ages 9 to 19.
 
Only issue I have had training is my ankle.  I hurt it on my first jump back in 2009 and it hasn’t really healed since.  That’s what you live with at our age, I guess.
 
Not sure about best events. Took third and second at both the OU Open and Texas Tech Invitational (college meets) in javelin as master (61.25 or 201 ft).  Ran 23.01 electronic in 200 couple weeks ago.  22-7.25 long jump as a master is better than any high schooler in Texas Panhandle past two years.  Pole vaulted 16-6 back in mid-90s.  Long jumped 23-10″ also in mid-90s. 
 
I guess I continue to run track at my decrepit age because I was born into the competitive Thomas family.  Like I said earlier, my brother and I both played Division I football at a high level.  We have eight cousins — two of them started at D1 college football programs (East Carolina and Virginia Tech), two of them (girls) ran track for Texas Tech, and the other ran track for University of Texas and was a world-class 400 meter hurdler.  All in the 90s.  My sister is married to Jason Taylor (current active NFL all-time sacks leader) and my other cousin is married to Khalil Greene (former MLB runner up for Rookie of the Year with the Padres). 

The odds of competing at the DI level or higher for a Thomas kid was 70 percent in the 90s.  I guess with the addition of these guys it might go up for Thomas kids 15-20 years from now.

Now me again: Sorry for delayed postings. I’ve been hyperbusy at my day-and-night job.

But I’m especially proud of some work this week. If you have a chance, check out my coverage of a local condo fire (where I found a 28-year fire veteran who saved a 23-year-old rookie). And see my story on the micro-scandal of the rich and famous Comic-Con in San Diego not having a business license ($110) in La Mesa. It’s a hoot.

Now go have a great Memorial Day weekend, and get some good workouts in!

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May 28, 2011

2 Responses

  1. Ed Riewerts - May 29, 2011

    Congrats to Bart. Great article. Bart is the real deal and great guy and sportsman. I ran into Bart a few weeks ago at the meet in Early TX. We only had a few minutes to “catch up” because we both had to get ready for our events but Bart and a Buddy also had a van load kids they brought to compete to attend to.

    Hats off to Bart, Your buddies in the Texas Throwers Club are proud of you!

  2. wayne bennett - May 30, 2011

    Bart has competed in our Texas masters Championships a couple of times and he is a champion in more than just his events. a real class gentleman. thanks for coming the 350 miles to Dallas to compete here. Dallas masters.

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