Hall of Fame
Janet Dodson-Thomas, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, participated in high school volleyball and track & field at Northwestern High School. A relative latecomer to track & field, Mrs. Dodson-Thomas did not start running until her junior year in high school at the age of 17 after being cut from the softball team. However, she entered Morgan State University in 1980 with unlimited potential and wasted little time fulfilling, setting three American records over her career.
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During her freshman season, Mrs. Dodson-Thomas secured a spot on the Lady Bear 880-yard relay team that set new collegiate and American records with a time of 1:36.8 in 1981. She set the individual 300-meter American record (37.54) in her sophomore season, which stood for nine months. Mrs. Dodson-Thomas continued her record breaking performances during her junior season when her Lady Bear mile relay team set another American record (3:39.58) in 1983. She finished her career as a two time All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) selection, a NCAA D-I All-American selection, an Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) D-I All-American selection, the first Lady Bear to have held three American records and a qualifier for the 200-meter race at the 1984 Olympics.
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Mrs. Dodson-Thomas obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University in 1987, and continued her educational pursuits by earning a Master’s degree in Education from Strayer University in 2011. She has stayed connected to her sports passion as a Maryland State Track & Field Official, which allows her to give back to the sport that shaped and brought her to where she is today. Mrs. Dodson-Thomas currently resides in Owings Mills, Maryland, with her husband Richard, and loves to cook and prepare for food events in her spare time. The couple has two sons, Malcom and Kyle, and a granddaughter Zion Amaefule. Kyle Thomas is a current member of the men’s basketball team at Morgan State University.
Currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland.
