College notebook: Prairie grad Schmidt captures heptathlon glory

Few NAIA athletes can match Prairie grad Valerie Schmidt when it comes to track and field versatility.

That has made the Corban University sophomore perfect for the heptathlon.

Friday, Schmidt broke her own school record and became the first Corban athlete to win the heptathlon at the Cascade Collegiate Conference championships.

Schmidt won three events (100-meter hurdles, shot put and 200 meters) and placed second in three others (high jump, long jump and javelin).

Schmidt’s 4,772 points are the third-best nationwide in the NAIA this year. She next competes at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 26-28 in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Schmidt placed sixth at nationals in 2019, earning All-American status.

Ries earns WCC honors

Portland senior Taryn Ries was named West Coast Conference first-team all-conference for the third consecutive year.

Reis, a striker from Ridgefield, scored a team-best five goals in a 10-game spring schedule, which the Pilots finished 3-4-3.

Ries started nine games and ranked sixth in the WCC in goals.

Do you know of an outstanding performance by a college athlete from Clark County? If so, e-mail Columbian sports editor Micah Rice at micah.rice@columbian.com