BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Ryan Thornton (Limestone HS, Mapleton, Ill.) etched his name in the Augustana record books on Friday, March 8 by earning All-America honors at the NCAA Division III National Indoor Track & Field Championships. The two-day event was held at the University of Massachusetts-Boston in Boston and Thornton placed fourth in the high jump.
 
Thornton cleared 6' 9" on his first attempt and that was good for fourth place in the event. Just one week earlier he set a previous personal best when he went over 6' 8 ¾" at the Wartburg NCAA Qualifier in Waverly, Iowa on March 2.
 
Thornton was part of a contingent of three athletes competing for first year head coach Jake Shaver's Vikings at the national meet.
 
Senior Michael Johnson (Owensboro HS, Owensboro, Ky.) was in the 60 meter dash and he placed 19^th with a time of :06.94. Senior Cody Wheeler (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) set a season's best in the weight throw with a toss of 59' 9 ¾" which earned him 14^th place.