Burns became a national champion on Saturday, May, 24, as he won the javelin throw at the 2008 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Burns, making his fourth appearance in the NCAA Championships, came right out and fired the javelin 63.35 meters (207 feet, 10 inches) to set a new school and J.J. Keller Field record. Brock Solveson of Concordia University equaled Burns' throw shortly thereafter. Burns won the event on a tie-breaker, as his next best throw of 58.53 meters surpassed Solveson's second-best throw of 58.26 meters. It is Burns' second All-American honor, as he placed fifth in 2006. Burns is RIT's second national champion. Mark Stebbins was a two-time national champion in the 400-meter hurdles in 1976 and 1978. Burns is RIT's eighth dual All-American. He was a state champion in 2006 and 2007 and Empire 8 Field Athlete of the Outdoor Meet in 2007.
