In a program known for its dominance in the multi-event realm, John Pimental was a trailblazer as the first multi-event national qualifier in Golden Bear track and field history, setting the tone for the successes in recent years.
A versatile athlete who contributed to the squad in several events, the Ripon, Wisconsin native held school records in the heptathlon, decathlon, and long jump at the time of his graduation while also joining forces with fellow CSP Hall of Famers Diahn Zeon, Jr., BA ‘12 and Kawaskii Bacon, BA ‘09 to set the 4x100m relay record that still stands today.
Pimental racked up significant hardware during his career, bringing home nine individual All-NSIC honors and being crowned an NSIC Champion five times.
He picked up his first of four NSIC Long Jump titles in the 2009 NSIC Indoor Championships before repeating in the 2009 NSIC Outdoor Championships, adding a crown in the 4x100m relay in that meet.
He made it four straight conference championships in the long jump as he earned the top spot in both the indoor and outdoor championships in 2010.
His success on the track was matched in the classroom as he earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors in 2009 before being named CSP’s NSIC Male Honor Student-Athlete of the Year in 2009-10. He also collected NSIC All-Academic recognition six times in his career.
After graduating with a health and physical education degree, he began work as an elementary physical education teacher with College Prep Elementary and a year later added a hall director position with CSP. In 2015, Pimental became a Flight Instructor and, a year later, an airline pilot. Since 2021, he has worked as a pilot for Delta Air Lines. Pimental lives in the south metro with his wife, fellow CSP Alum Sara (Sather) Pimental, BA ‘11, and their three boys, Isaac, Percy, and Liam.
Career Awards
- Four-time NSIC Long Jump Champion (2009 indoor, 2009 outdoor, 2010 indoor, 2010 outdoor)
- NSIC Champion in the 4x100m Relay (2009 outdoor)
- National qualifier in the heptathlon (2010 NCAA Indoor Championships)
- Nine-time All-NSIC between long jump and multi-event
- USTFCCCA All-Academic (2009)
- Six-time NSIC All-Academic
- NSIC Male Honor Student-Athlete of the Year (2009-10)
- CSP Top 4 Award (2009-10)
- Team Captain (2009-10)
CSP Records
- 1st - 4x100m relay (41.04)
- 1st (at time of graduation) - heptathlon
- 1st (at time of graduation) - decathlon
- 1st (at time of graduation) - long jump (outdoor)
Career & Season Stats
- Scored eight points in both the 2010 NSIC Indoor & Outdoor Championships
- Finished 11th in the heptathlon at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships with 4660 points
- CSP’s sixth national qualifier and first multi-event national qualifier
- Won the long jump in each of his final four NSIC Championships
