Thompson's Mission Beyond the Track
9/14/2026 11:51:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Junior Sierra Thompson of the Sacred Heart University track and field team had an incredible opportunity this past summer, traveling to Togo for a two-week mission trip in July, where she shared her passion for track and field while making an impact beyond the sport.
The trip was organized through Athletes in Action, an organization that uses sports as a platform to connect athletes and coaches around the world. Thompson was one of seven people on the trip, joining two other athletes and four coaches from schools across the country.
Throughout her time in Togo, Thompson worked with both children and adults, sharing her knowledge of track and field while also participating in Bible study. She helped teach skills across a variety of events, including sprints, throws and more. The experience allowed Thompson to use the sport she loves as a way to connect with and serve others in a completely different environment.
"Their hunger for our knowledge was incredibly inspiring," Thompson said, explaining that the athletes and coaches she worked with were constantly "eager to learn."
Thompson's journey took her to three different areas of Togo, each providing a unique experience.
The first stop took her into the mountains, where she spent time working primarily with middle school-aged children. From there, Thompson traveled to Kpalimé, where her focus shifted toward working with coaches and sharing the skills and techniques she has developed throughout her own track and field career.
Her final stop was Lomé, the capital of Togo, where she worked with older athletes who were around college age. It was also there that Thompson saw a true track facility for the first time during the trip.
After spending much of her journey teaching others, Thompson finally had the opportunity to lace up her own spikes and compete on the track herself. While the competition was just for fun, it gave her the chance to experience the sport she loves alongside the athletes she had traveled so far to meet.
For Thompson, it was another memorable moment in a two-week journey that allowed track and field to become much more than a competition. It became a way to teach, learn and build connections with people thousands of miles from home.
Â
The trip was organized through Athletes in Action, an organization that uses sports as a platform to connect athletes and coaches around the world. Thompson was one of seven people on the trip, joining two other athletes and four coaches from schools across the country.
Throughout her time in Togo, Thompson worked with both children and adults, sharing her knowledge of track and field while also participating in Bible study. She helped teach skills across a variety of events, including sprints, throws and more. The experience allowed Thompson to use the sport she loves as a way to connect with and serve others in a completely different environment.
"Their hunger for our knowledge was incredibly inspiring," Thompson said, explaining that the athletes and coaches she worked with were constantly "eager to learn."
Thompson's journey took her to three different areas of Togo, each providing a unique experience.
The first stop took her into the mountains, where she spent time working primarily with middle school-aged children. From there, Thompson traveled to Kpalimé, where her focus shifted toward working with coaches and sharing the skills and techniques she has developed throughout her own track and field career.
Her final stop was Lomé, the capital of Togo, where she worked with older athletes who were around college age. It was also there that Thompson saw a true track facility for the first time during the trip.
After spending much of her journey teaching others, Thompson finally had the opportunity to lace up her own spikes and compete on the track herself. While the competition was just for fun, it gave her the chance to experience the sport she loves alongside the athletes she had traveled so far to meet.
For Thompson, it was another memorable moment in a two-week journey that allowed track and field to become much more than a competition. It became a way to teach, learn and build connections with people thousands of miles from home.
Â
Players Mentioned
Heptathlon/Hurdles/Jumps
/ Women's Track and FieldTuesday, April 16
Friday, March 08
Friday, February 23
Friday, February 16
