AUSTIN, Texas— Colorado Mesa University's Justin Thompson was named to the 2020-21 CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-America Men's Cross Country/Track & Field Team, which was announced on Wednesday morning.
 
Thompson, an all-America high jumper and exercise science major with a perfect 4.00 GPA is just the second man and third Maverick track and field athlete to ever earn the honor.  He was a second team selection.
 
CMU's previous selections were Nolan Ellis, a 2-time first team pick in 2018 and 2019 and 2020 third team selection Sarah Cerrone.
 
In 2020-21, Thompson, a redshirt sophomore out of Carbondale, Colorado earned USTFCCCA All-America honors during both the indoor and outdoor seasons finishing sixth and tenth at the NCAA Division II Championship meets, respectively.  He also was named as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Summit Award winner for having the highest GPA of all athletes competing at the outdoor conference championships.
 
Thompson claimed nine event wins throughout the season winning the RMAC high jump crown during the indoor season before taking second in the outdoor season while also co-leading the RMAC season-long performance list.
 
Throughout his 2-year Maverick career after transferring from MSU Denver, where he was a member of the basketball team, Thompson has earned four All-RMAC honors, including three this year, and three USTFCCCA All-South Central Region honors, including two this year.
 
Thompson is also the school-record holder in the indoor triple jump (14.79 meters/48 feet, 6 ¼ inches) and outdoor long jump (7.44 meters/24-5) and ranks second in program-history in both the indoor and outdoor high jump events with personal-best marks of 2.11 meters (6-11) and 2.12 meters (6-11.5).
 
To be nominated, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 or higher cumulative GPA, although those selected typically have higher GPAs.  They must have also completed at least one full calendar year at their institution and have reached sophomore athletic eligibility.