BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - Southwestern University Men's Track and Field junior Lukas Nowlin made history on Saturday afternoon, becoming the first Pirate to earn All-American status in Indoor Track. Nowlin placed fifth in the High Jump among 20 of the best jumpers in the nation at the 2026 NCAA DIII Indoor Championships. 

After winning the SAA High Jump title and recording a leap of 2.06 meters, Nowlin qualified for the event National Championship, which featured only 20 of the best in the event. The Pirates women's squad achieved All-American status in last year's NCAA Outdoor Track ad Field Championship with an eighth place finish from Arden Neff. Nowlin had the chance to etch history in the men's books. 

The junior cleared his school record height of 2.06 meters, which brought the competitors pool from 20 athletes to 11. Then, Nowlin reset his own school record in his final attempt on the 2.09 meters jump. The jump secured a First Team All-American podium finish as the pool of jumpers dwindled down to five athletes who cleared 2.09 meters. Nowlin failed three times on the 2.12 meter jumps as only two athletes cleared the distance. 

Nowlin finished fifth as the one of the most prolific jumpers in program history who is only a junior. Congrats to Lukas, his teammates, and the Pirates coaching staff on a monumental achievement.