St. Olaf's Thornton to receive MIAC Distinguished Service Award
10/30/2008 1:59:48 PM
St. Paul, Minn. -- Former St. Olaf College Head Men's Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Bill Thornton will be awarded the 2008 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Distinguished Service Award this Saturday, November 1. After the conclusion of the 2008 MIAC Cross Country Championships, Thornton will be recognized during an awards ceremony. The 2008 Championships will be held at Como Golf Course in St. Paul, with the men's race at 2 p.m. and the women's race at 3 p.m.
The MIAC Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to their institution and to the conference. The award is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual from the MIAC.
Thornton, who retired from his position last spring, had been at St. Olaf for three and a half decades, coaching track and field for the entirety and cross country from 1970 through 1984 and 1997 to 2007. During his tenure, Thornton coached over 100 Midwest Conference and MIAC Champions, 30 All-Americans, and five national champions. Thornton's student-athletes currently hold 13 MIAC records (eight indoor, five outdoor) and one NCAA Division III indoor record.
Thornton has been instrumental in the collection and updating of the MIAC cross country and track & field records. He has served as a host for several conference championships directly and indirectly. His contributions to the development of the MIAC Track & Field Book, along with Saint John's Tim Miles, have helped to provide a template for running successful championships.
Founded in 1920, the MIAC sponsors championships in 22 sports. Conference teams are all affiliated with NCAA Division III and the MIAC is recognized as one of the toughest athletic conferences in the country. The members of the MIAC, all private undergraduate colleges in Minnesota, are Augsburg College, Bethel University, Carleton College, Concordia College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University, Macalester College, the College of Saint Benedict, the College of St. Catherine, Saint John's University, Saint Mary's University, St. Olaf College, and the University of St. Thomas.
Previous MIAC Distinguished Service Award Recipients
