Hall of Fame induction: 1994
Recognized as one of the top women hurdles of her time, Carol was nationally ranked for over a decade. When she began there was no high school track for girls in Delaware, and she represented Delaware Track & Field Club and the University of Delaware until her retirement in 1978. As an age group competitor she was a National AAU 60 yard hurdles champion.
Carol was the 1976 National Collegiate and USTFF champion at 100 meter hurdles, the Word Record holder at 60 yard hurdles, and the American record holder at both 50 meter and 60 meter hurdles indoors. Thompson was awarded All-American status by the AIAW (women’s NCAA), the USTFF and the AAU in 1976-1977, and was ranked second in the word in 1977 by Track & Field News in the 50 meter hurdles.
She competed as a member of the USA National Team many times against the USSR, Germany, Canada and other national teams. She placed in the top six at the AAU National Championships 11 times. Carol became the University of Florida’s woman’s head coach and later coached at Drake, Rutgers and East Carolina Universities as well as the South and East teams at the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival.