Looking back, there were multiple reasons, some by chance, Blake Thompson developed into a state-champion discus thrower.
The Langley Saxons senior recently won this spring’s Virginia High School League Class 6 outdoor boys state crown in the event with a six-foot personal-best and school-record throw of 162-feet, 11-inches at Todd Stadium in Newport News. In addition, Thompson placed ninth in the boys shot putt with another personal-best toss of 49-11.
Thompson has only been a high-school thrower for three years. He began during the spring outdoor season of his sophomore year when encouraged to do so by longtime throwing coach Greg Sullivan, after Thompson was cut trying out for the varsity baseball team. Sullivan recognized and had a strong hunch about Thompson’s potential as a thrower because of his size, athletic versatility and ability and a willingness to listen and apply what he learned.
Thompson was a first-team all-region and all-district tight end in football for Langley this past fall, played basketball for Langley in previous seasons, and swims during the summer for the Shouse Village Sharks of the Northern Virginia Swimming League.
During a career of coaching high-school throwers that dates back to 1982, Sullivan has coached eight individual state champions, girls and boys, in the shot or discus. So he recognizes potential talent in those events.
As an assistant coach, Sullivan got to know the now 6-foot-4, 240-pound Thompson during Langley’s football seasons, where he played multiple positions.
“I knew Blake would put in the time and work,” Sullivan said. “I told him that first season that he could win a state title as a senior. He was prepared at the right time and he had a great state meet. I’m glad I had the opportunity to coach him for three years.”
After being cut in baseball, Thompson hesitated about joining the track and field team.
“My dad told me to give track and field a try and give it two or three weeks, then make a decision,” Thompson said. “If he hadn’t told me that or I’d made the baseball team, I never would have been throwing the shot and discus.”
His development in the events was further enhanced by giving up playing boys basketball for the Langley teams during the winter. That way he could also participate and concentrate on throwing during the winter indoor track and field season.
Thompson will now continue as a thrower during the 2024-25 college seasons at the U.S. Naval Academy’s prep school, adding the hammer and weight-throw events, not offered in high school.
“Throwing did not come easy at first,” Thompson said. “I remember my first meet as a sophomore. I threw 117 in the discus and 36 feet in the shot. Those weren’t very far, but I thought I might have a chance to be good at this. I’ve added quite a bit of distance since.”
Thompson said his mindset at the recent spring state meet was to stay calm and fluid when throwing, which he did on his winning third throw.
“I was very fluid on that throw, got pretty excited after hitting that mark and was jumping for joy,” he said.
His goal was to break 50 feet in the shot, that he just missed.
Prior to the state meet, Thompson threw 156-4 in the discus to win this spring’s 6D North Region meet and 48-6 to win the shot. He also won the discus (152-7) at the previous Liberty Districdt meet and was second in the shot (49-5).
