Deondra Thomas
Deondra Thomas
Height: 5-2
Year: Sr.
Hometown: Columbia, Tenn.
High School: Columbia Central HS
Major: Athletic Training

2017-18: Competed in five cross country meets... Career-best time of 22:02.25 at the SAC Championship (Oct. 21) and finish in 72nd place... 34th at the Tusculum Open (Sep. 1) with 25:25 and 37th at the Koala Classic (Oct. 7) with 24:14.6... 22:57 at the Royal XC Challenge (Sep. 29)... Also competed on the TU track team where she competed in the 200m, 400m and 800m... 200m time of 30.03 was 52nd at the Terrier Relays... Indoor 400m time of 1:07.87 at the Buccaneer Inv (Feb. 2) and 800m PR of 2:47.07 at the Liberty Kickoff.

2016: Ran in all six meets for the Pioneers... Placed 12th at the Tusculum Open (Sep. 9) with a 5K time of 23:51.4... Logged a season-best time of 22:14.1 at the Royal XC Challenge (Oct. 7)... Finished 29th at the Hyder McMahill Invitational (Sep. 3) with a time of 23:46.8... Finished 72nd at the SAC Championship (Oct. 22) and 161st at the NCAA II Southeast Regional (Nov. 5) with a 6K time of 27:04.29.

2015: Competed in five meets where she recorded three finishes in the top-20... Placed 12th at the Hagan Stone Classic (Oct. 3) with a 5K time of 24:38.48... Finished 16th at the both the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational (Sep. 11) and the Carson-Newman Invitational (Sep. 19)... Finished with a 5K time of 23:11.59 at LR and 23:52.7 at C-N... Best 5K time of the year came at the Royal Challenge where she finished in 22:07.1... Finished 72nd at the SAC Championship (Oct. 24).

High School: Product of Columbia Central HS in Columbia, Tenn.... Coached by Tim Woods (XC) and David Davis (track)... Three-year letter-winner in cross country and twice in track... Received the Queen of Cross Country award as a senior... Qualified for the Tennessee state meet in her sophomore campaign... Personal-best 5,000-meter time is 21:10... Also lettered in track... Set the school record for the 300-meter hurdles as a freshman.

Personal: Full name is Deondra Leprii Thomas... Born Oct. 1, 1996 in Columbia, Tenn.... Daughter of Tonus Thomas and Latara Joyce... Sisters - La'Ondra (23) and Maliyah (17)... Majoring in sports science with a minor in coaching...  Future plans: Continue serving in the military and go to officer school. I plan to change my military job from mechanical to medical... Community service: Bonner Leader, Nettie Day of Service... Favorite books: The Outsiders by S.E. Henton; Favorite midnight snack: Blueberry Pop-Tarts; Favorite musical artists: T.I. and Eminem; Favorite song: "No Matter What"; Deondra can't live without: Music; Deondra's most thrilling moment in sports: Winning her first 300-meter hurdle race; Deondra's advice to kids: "Never give up because in time, everything gets better"; Favorite colors: Lime green; Favorite food: Meat loaf; Favorite sports other than running; Basketball; Person Deondra admires most: Her mom; What people don't know about Deondra: "People don't realize how caring I am until they really get to know me."; Deondra's childhood idol was: Candace Parker; When people first meet Deondra, they think: She's shy, but actually she is the opposite.