On the second and final day of the 2017 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, Aurora University junior shot put thrower Ryan Njegovan set AU history when he became the first individual or team to win a NCAA Division III National Championship.

Njegovan entered the shot put with the top throw among Division III throwers and did not disappoint as he tossed what would be the winning distance in his second attempt, 17.83 meters / 58' 6". He then held on over the next four rounds of throws and as he walked up for the sixth and final attempt, he had clinched the NCAA Championship in the shot put. He earned All-American honors as well with his finish.

The NCAA title for Njegovan becomes the first for an AU team or individual with previous runner-up finishes coming from his teammates Brandon Pichen (weight throw yesterday) and Bobby Cooks (2015 indoor 60 meter hurdles) and the 1990 Spartan baseball team.

A short time later Spartan Bobby Cooks participated in the 60 meter hurdle final and hurdled a time of 8.19 to finish sixth. He was at the front of the pack before clipping a hurdle but regained his balance to finish sixth. The finish earned Cooks All-American status in the indoor 60 meter hurdles for the third consecutive season. He was the national runner-up in 2015 and fourth in 2015.

With the All-American performances by Njegovan, Pichen and Cooks, the Spartan men finished tied for sixth in the meet as a team with 21 points. The best finish by an AU men's indoor track anf field team in the NCAA Division III Track and Field Indoor Championship.

After a couple weeks off, the AU men will begin the 2017 outdoor track and field schedule. Spartans travel to Augustana College on Saturday, April 1 for the Viking Olympics that begin at 11:00 a.m. in Rock Island, Illinois.