Truman State University Athletics

"Cookie" Thornton, a graduate of Kirkwood High School in St. Louis, entered the university in 1974. He earned All-American track honors, finishing eighth in the NCAA Division II championships as a freshman triple jumper. Mr. Thornton was also ninth in the 1975 national high jump. He did not compete in track in 1976, but the year off did not diminish his skills. As a sophomore in 1977 he broke the school record in the high jump with a leap of 7-0 and narrowly missed collecting All-American honors at the NCAA meet. That season his best mark in the triple jump was 48-8. In 1978 he received All-American accolades again with a fifth-place finish in the NCAA high jump with 6-11. As a senior he finished second in the 1979 national high jump with a leap of 7-0. He still holds the university indoor record of 7-2.5 and outdoor mark of 7-0.5 in the high jump. Mr. Thornton compiled a number of other achievements during his career. He won an unprecedented three events at the 1978 and 1979 MIAA indoors, the high jump, long jump and triple jump, and took the high jump at the 1978 Karnes Invitational and the Texas Relays. He also finished first in the high jump at the 1979 MIAA outdoor championship. After graduating, Mr. Thornton operated TNT Trucking Co. for three years in St. Louis. Since then, he managed an asphalt concrete construction company in St. Louis.