Note to coaches: Be sure to send a thank you card to Cuyamaca College.

With a women’s track and field squad rebuilding at Georgia, coaches should be expressing their gratitude towards this small California community college – especially since it has provided a cornerstone to the effort. That would be javelin thrower Michelle Thompson, the explanation behind this personal reminder around the track and field offices.

A two-sport star at Cuyamaca College (basketball being the other), Thompson has exploded during her first season of competition as a Bulldog. Georgia has dominated in the throws in recent history, and Thompson is being dubbed as the next in line to carry the torch. She has thrown the javelin so far this season, so that torch looks to be in good hands.

“She is just such a competitor that there is no telling how good she can be – I believe she could challenge for the school record,” said throws coach Don Babbitt.

A little hazy on the sport of javelin throwing? You are not alone. Thompson never even picked up a javelin before enrolling at Cuyamaca. In fact, she never knew the event existed. It took a couple eye-opening throws as a part of a college heptathlon for her to find her true calling in the sport. Thompson would eventually hold the community college record in the javelin (158 feet, 9 inches).

“What makes everything even more exciting is that I am so young in this sport,” Thompson said. “It gives me an advantage, though, because I didn’t have any old, bad habits. [Javelin] just fits me so perfectly.”

In her first meet as a Bulldog, she threw the fifth best mark (162 feet, 4 inches) in Georgia history. Since then, Thompson has moved up to No. 4 in the record books with her throw at the Arizona State Invitational (169 feet, 5 inches). But records and natural ability are not the only precedent where she sets herself apart – it is her passion for the sport.

“I just love track and everything about it,” Thompson said. “I love the individual competition and I have done a little bit of everything – running, throws, everything. I just couldn’t get enough.”

The redshirt junior may have resided in obscurity while sitting out last season due to transfer, but her accomplishments come as no surprise to those who watched her work while redshirting.

“She is not doing anything that we did not expect,” said head coach Wayne Norton. “She may be an unknown commodity around the league, but we fully expect her to challenge for an SEC individual championship and All-American honors.”

As for being a cornerstone to the reconstruction of a storied program, pressure is something that Thompson can handle. She thrives in it and there is little doubt she can handle the heat.

“Oh, I love to jump right into the fire – why not?” Thompson said. “I always want to do my best and to slow down at anything would just be a waste. I like to go beyond what people expect, and I will always be looking to step up my level.”

Note to competition: Stay tuned to see which step Michelle Thompson will take next.