Tri-City Thunder

 2022 TRI-CITY THUNDER COACHES APPRECIATION DINNER

           DONALD SORENSON, HEAD COACH/LONG JUMP/RELAY COACH

Coach Donald has been a member of the Tri-City Thunder coaching staff since 2016, mainly concentrating on the long jump. He also helps out with the Thunder relay teams. In addition to coaching with the Thunder, Donald is also a member of the Southridge High School T&F coaching staff. A 1996 graduate of Kennewick High School, he competed in the high jump, long jump, and sprints. Donald is a Tri-Cities native with over 21 years of coaching experience in track and field, basketball, soccer, and fast pitch softball. Donald has been a level one certified USATF coach since 2019. He lives in Kennewick with his wife Lisa and their 4 daughters, two of which are members of the Tri-City Thunder.

JAMIE COTTON, HEAD XC COACH

Coach Jamie began his XC and T&F career way back in 1987 when he was converted from a soccer player to a distance runner at the beginning of his first year of junior high school. During his three years in junior high school (7th-9th grade), he won the league championship for XC three times and the mile twice

During his three years of high school, he qualified for two State XC Championships (while missing the cut for a third qualification by one spot after breaking his collarbone the first week of the season), and two State T&F Championships. At the conclusion of his senior year, Coach Jamie ran for the Kirkland Express, a USATF JO club team, and qualified for the 1993 JO National Championships in the 1500m, 3000m, and the 4x400m relay.

Coach Jamie spent two years running XC at Bellevue College, finishing top 10 in the conference championships both years and earning all-conference honors his second year. During track season he specialized in the 1500m, earning all-conference honors his first year. 

While serving in the U.S. Navy, Coach Jamie represented the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, Naval Weapons Station Charleston, and the USS Henry M Jackson as a runner in multiple Armed Forces competitions.

Coach Jamie has been the XC coach and the T&F distance event coach for Tri City Thunder for the past seven years. This past T&F season he added the racewalk event to his coaching duties. Coach Jamie has been coaching Boy’s XC at Southridge HS for the last seven years. 

Coach Jamie has been a USATF Certified Coach for the last six years and a USATF Certified Official for the last five years. He serves as the President for the USATF Inland NW Association, while also serving as its Official’s Certification Chair. 

Coach Jamie and his wife Heather have four children, with two of them being current Thunder athletes and the other two being Thunder alumni. 

Coach Jamie repeatedly tell his athletes: “Be proud of your accomplishments but NEVER satisfied.” and “Don’t think, just run.” 

D.J. LOWRANCE, THROWS COACH

Coach D.J. has been coaching with the Tri-City Thunder since 2019, coaching mainly Discus during that time. D.J. is graduate of Kennewick High School where he participated in Shot Put, Discus, and Sprints. He enjoys taking part in seeing Thunder athletes develop a great work ethic and learning quality throwing technique to excel in USATF. As well as seeing them take their talents to the next level in college. He lives in Kennewick with his wife Candice and their 3 daughters.

JOSH PASMA, SPRINTS COACH

Coach Josh ran for Kennewick High School and was a part of a 4x400 relay that to this day still holds the school record. At Whitworth University he long jumped, threw javelin, and was on nationally ranked 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Coach Josh has been coaching with the Tri-City Thunder since 2019, providing sprint workouts for our younger sprinters. 

He has been married to his wife Laura 20 years and has 4 children as well as an Australian labradoodle that keeps his family on their toes. He is the lead pastor of Crossview Church in Kennewick.

CONNOR DUFFY, SPRINTS & HURDLES COACH

Coach Connor Duffy has been on the Tri-City Thunder coaching staff since 2019, focusing primarily on sprints and hurdles. Duffy ran hurdles in high school and brings a postive energy to practice with him. Coach Connor's goal is to help every athlete realize and reach their own potential in sprints and hurdles.