EMPORIA, KS – Graduate student Ryan Hunter achieved program history on Saturday (May 23) after garnering Second-Team All-American honors in the men's javelin at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Emporia State University.

The NCAA and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recognize places 1st-8th as First-Team All-Americans, while finishing 9th-16th earns Second-Team All-American status.

Hunter entered the championship meet as the program's first-ever male qualifier at the NCAA Division II level and just the second student-athlete across the men's and women's programs to reach the national stage.

A native of Blythewood, S.C., he competed first in the opening flight and set the tone with a toss of 64.09 meters to ultimately place 13th overall and capture All-American honors. He outperformed several of his opponents to jump four places in his pre-meet ranking after coming in 17th in the men's javelin.

Hunter leaves his legacy at Francis Marion as the program's first-ever All-American in NCAA Division II men's track & field. He closes his career as a two-time Conference Carolinas champion in the javelin while holding the conference meet record (66.61m) and school record (67.04m) in the event.