Thornton ran a season-best 50.65 in the 400-meter hurdles to finish third in the event at Tom Black Track on the campus of the University of Tennessee, qualifying for the regionals for the second straight season.
The Pirates' 4x400 meter relay team consisting of Terrance Burton, Anthony Easter, Terry Thornton and Andrew Peresta ran a 3:08.41 to capture second place behind another regional qualifier Northern Iowa. More importantly, Hampton earned its second consecutive regional appearance in the event.
Thornton and the 4x400 meter relay team will join Kellie Wells (100-meter hurdles) and Yvette Lewis (triple jump) who qualified earlier in the season, at the regional meet hosted by Manhattan College.