THOMAS ANDREWS

Thomas Andrews is one of the most successful track and field athletes in West High School’s history. As a freshman in 1969, he set records in the 180-yard low hurdles and the triple jump. He was on the 4x100 relay team and the 4x400 relay that lost only once that year and went on to Valley. As a sophomore, Tom added to his repertoire of events the high hurdles and set a school record in that event. In his junior year, he added the quarter mile to his events. His 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams had a record-setting year. In Tom’s senior year, he set school records in the triple jump and the quarter mile, ran on the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams, and tied the state record in the 120-yard high hurdles.

In 1973, Tom won a trip to Washington, D.C., for the Marine physical-fitness contest for high school students. He turned down this opportunity in order to participate in the Golden West Invitational track meet, which brings together the best eight athletes in each event from throughout the country. Tom participated in the triple jump and the high hurdles.

After graduation from West in 1973, Tom received a full scholarship to the University of Southern California and became one of the finest track and field athletes in the school’s history. Tom placed second in the Pac 8 in the quarter-mile intermediate hurdles during his freshman year. He placed first in the Pac 8 in that event for the next three years. He was also on many winning relay teams.  

In 1976, Tom was on the Division I NCAA championship track team, taking third place in the intermediate hurdles and fourth place as a member of the 4x400 relay team. He won the American championship in the 400-meter hurdles and went on to the Olympic trials. He did not qualify for the Olympic team due to his hay fever, which required medication that could not be taken at that time.

Tom’s last year at USC,1977, was another banner year. He was named captain of the track team and won gold medals in three events in the NCAA championship meet. They were in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, the 4x100 relay, and the 4x400 relay. He was named Most Outstanding Athlete and Most Valuable of the meet. Most fittingly, Tom was named Track Athlete of the Year by the Southern California Track Writers Association. Reflective of his performance every year at USC, he was named All-American all four years.  

Tom has worked for the Boeing Company as a machinist for twenty-eight years.  He has three sons, Brian (33), Robert (30), and Devin (24). He and his wife, Sheryl, live in Tacoma, Washington.

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