After a successful cross country season, McMaster runner Iain Thomson has his sights set on the 2026 indoor track season. The second-year commerce student is coming off an impressive fall that included a 4th-place finish at the OUA Championships (23:40.1), with OUA all-star honors—leading the Marauders to a team bronze—and 19th at U SPORTS (25:16).

A Dundas native, Iain first got into running in middle school after joining the Hamilton Olympic Club. In the beginning, Thomson admits the motivation to take up running was simple—beating his best friend, but soon his passion for the sport became clear.

His competitive career truly began in grade 10, when his coach at Dundas Valley encouraged him and his teammates to take running more seriously. After the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out his grade nine season, grade 10 was where the drive started for Thomson. Thomson joined a small club called Monte Cristo to gain some more experience. "It was like a great way to get into the sport because I always had people to run with at school," he said. 

Missing an entire year of competition was difficult, and Thomson believes it limited what he could have achieved in high school. Still, he sees the silver lining. "A lot of people I know who started the sport really early burned out toward the end of high school," he said. "I never really experienced that. I've always been excited to compete and train." Despite the setbacks, he looks back fondly: "I had a fun time in high school. It made me love the sport for sure."

Thomson joined the McMaster cross country program in 2024. Coming into a new training program was a bit of an adjustment for him but he felt it was still an important building year. "Last year,  I wasn't running super well in cross country, I was still adjusting to the new training style", he said. A tough, asthma-affected race at Kay Drage Park closed out his year, prompting him to reset—and that reset paid off. He went on to win at AOs, help the Habour Track team to the title, and contribute to a runner-up team finish at Nationals.

During his first indoor season, Thomson focused on the 3000m, running a personal best in Boston and placing 6th at OUAs. His kick remains one of his strengths—something first developed when his high school coach had him train 800m speed in grade 11. "I like the 3km because I can take advantage of that," he said.

One of his proudest accomplishments came, when he won the men's U20 5000m national championship. "I didn't think I was going to win it. I wasn't really training for it," he said. "It went down to a kick, and I got him in the last 100m. I was so happy." Thomson credits much of his growth to the coaches who've guided him—including McMaster's head coach, Paula Schnurr. "Paula is very smart—her training is very smart," he said. He said her honesty and lack of pressure made choosing McMaster feel natural. "She's a great coach," he added, appreciating the chance to stay close to home, surrounded by friends and a strong program.
 

Family support has also been essential. With a busy training schedule, Thomson says he's grateful for the stability his parents provide—though he prefers they watch races from afar. "I don't want them at a lot of races. It makes me nervous," he admitted with a laugh. They often watch online and text updates mid-race. His racing style doesn't help calm nerves either: "I like to race from the back of the pack," he said—much to his mom's stress.

Thomson loves running because it rewards hard work. "If you put in the work, you're always going to get better." He thrives on competition as well: "I'm a competitive person. I really like competing." Running also brings him a sense of calm. "I have a lot of energy," he joked, "so I find running relaxing."

The 2025 season opened with a breakthrough win at the Western Invitational—a result he didn't fully expect. "I haven't had a consistent cross country season in a while, so I think of myself as more of a track guy," he said. "I had a good summer, felt good, but had no idea how it would translate." Once he worked his way to the front, he committed: "I felt good, so I went for it."

Looking ahead, Thomson's goals for the 2026 track season are clear: qualifying for U SPORTS and medaling at OUAs in the 3k. He knows gaining U SPORTS experience is crucial. "I just want to get to that stage so over the next three years I know how to navigate that field—even if this year isn't a crazy outstanding performance," he said. "U SPORTS is just a different style of racing."

As for the future, Thomson plans to stay connected to the sport he loves. "Maybe I'll move up in distance. I know I want to stay in running," he said. "You've just got to get through one year at a time."