GULF SHORES, Ala. – It was a historic day for the Corban University men's and women's track & field teams on Friday, as Michael Schmidt, Reagan Shira, and Valerie Schmidt each claimed All-America accolades with their incredible performances in the combined events at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

RESULTS

Michael Schmidt finished as the national runner-up in the decathlon, setting a new school record with 6,955 points. Shira finished in fourth place overall, registering a new personal-best with his 6,697-point effort. In the heptathlon, Valerie Schmidt (4,711 points) earned the highest placing in Warrior women's track & field history, taking sixth in a field of 17 to claim All-America plaudits in just her first year with the Navy and Gold.

"Today provided the highest finish ever for a Corban track & field athlete on both the men's and women's side," said head coach Norm Berney after the monumental day. "It was a great effort by Michael and Reagan to maintain and move up in the standings today. Valerie competed against upperclassmen and ended up being the highest finisher from our conference, as well as the highest placer in Corban women's history."

It's the second NAIA All-America plaudit of Michael Schmidt's illustrious career, who established a new personal standard for himself in the javelin (164' 6.25") during his day-two climb into second place. Only Pieter Top of Westmont (7,080 points) scored higher than Schmidt, who now holds the Corban men's track & field record for highest placement at the NAIA Championships.

Meanwhile, it's the first-ever All-America accolade of Shira's career, who missed out on the honor at last year's national meet. Since then, the junior from Adrian, Ore. added 687 points to his point total, firmly cementing himself as one of the best decathletes in the nation with his fourth-place finish on Friday. Crucial to Shira's performance were new career-bests in the 110-meter hurdles (15.80 seconds) and the javelin throw (138' 6").

Valerie Schmidt put the finishing touches on one of the greatest inaugural seasons in Warrior history, competing on the NAIA's biggest stage as the only freshman in the entire field of heptathletes. No member of the Corban women's track & field team has ever placed higher in an event, and she trailed the fifth-place finisher—Joscelyn Wind of Dordt (4,712 points)—by just one point. Her performance set a new school record, something she has done on multiple occasions in her rookie campaign.

Though it has already been a historic weekend for the programs, it isn't over yet. Hannah Clarizio—who qualified for the finals in the steeplechase yesterday—will have a chance to run again tomorrow. The event is scheduled to take place at 12 p.m. CST.