JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Sophomore Johnnie Nabors can be now called an All-American as he has qualified for the finals in the 60 meter dash at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships at the Memorial Center in Johnson City, Tenn.

Nabors (Lawrenceville, Ga.) placed second in this semifinal heat race with a time of 6.84 seconds. Teammate Andre Thornton (Loganville, Ga.) nearly missed making the finals with his time of 6.88 seconds in the first heat. Thornton was seventh overall, finishing 0.02 seconds behind sixth and final qualifier, James Thomas of Graceland (Iowa).

To earn All-American status requires a Top Six finish in the finals. Since there are just six who will compete in the 60 meter finals, Nabors automatically earns NAIA All-American honors. Nabors is Union's first-ever All-American in Indoor Track & Field. Tommie Oates earned All-American honors in the 100 meter dash in Outdoor Track & Field in 1992.

The other qualifiers are Mike Rogers of Oklahoma Baptist, Orion Nicely of McKendree (Ill.), Jamal Forbes of Dickinson State (N.D.). Jordan Jeffers of Cumberlands (Ky.) and Thomas.

Rogers broke the NAIA record with his time of 6.65 seconds, which he previously set in the preliminaries with a time of 6.68 seconds.

In prelims, Thornton won his heat with a time of 6.89 seconds with Nabors winning his in 6.87 seconds.

The finals for the 60 meter dash is scheduled for Saturday at 1:25 p.m. at the Memorial Center in Johnson City, Tenn.