Lamar University Athletics

The first Lamar University student-athlete in any sport to win an NCAA Division I national championship, Thomas Eriksson accomplished that feat at the 1985 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships when he soared a national meet record-tying 7 feet, 7.5 inches to capture the high jump.

Eriksson’s national championship is the monument of a career that was filled with numerous other successes. He finished ninth in the NCAA high jump as a freshman in 1982 and seventh in 1984. In addition to the outdoor high jump mark, Eriksson set Lamar records for the indoor high jump (7-3.25) and the outdoor triple jump (53-0.75).

He was voted the Outstanding Field Events Performer in the Southland Conference in 1984 and 1985 when he was the league’s dominant athlete. In 1985, Thomas had wins in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. He won the high jump and triple jump, and tool second in the long jump in 1984. Eriksson also won four indoor conference championships, for a career total of 10 conference and national championships. Thomas represented Sweden in the 1984 Summer Olympics.