MARION, Ind. – Seniors McKenzie Clark and Allyson Conner earned All-American status on day one at the NAIA Championships at Wildcat Stadium Wednesday.
    
"It was an incredible and emotional day for me as well, to see my two seniors here reach All-American Status was very special, and just another first for the program to add to the long list from this season." Assistant Coach Alan Cress stated after day one of the NAIA National Championships.

Senior McKenzie Clark secured All-American status on Wednesday placing third in the Javelin. Clark's second throw of the day was her best coming in at 43.80m for her second straight podium finish after placing second in the event last season.

Clark was a four-time Frontier Conference Champion winning this year's event on her very last throw and is the programs record holder in the Javelin. Cress on Clark's performance stated, " I am very proud of McKenzie Clark today to come back to the National Championship and fight for the title after 6 months of medical procedures and rehabilitation on her knees, which sidelined her from any heavy lifting and throwing. The mental toughness was really there for the 4X National Qualifier, and it showed with her season best performance and landing on the All-American podium, becoming the first in the throws program to reach that goal twice."

Senior Allyson Conner also secured All-American status placing seventh in the Hammer with 54.35m. Conner's final throw of the preliminary flights of 53.37m was enough to put her in the seventh spot going into the finals. With All-American status clinched on her last throw of the afternoon she went for her best of the day for a seventh-place finish.

Conner was the Frontier Conference Champion in the Hammer and broke the school record three times this season. Cress on Conner's performance stated, "I am so proud of Allyson to finally reach the All-American podium in the hammer after so many years of hard work and fighting back through injuries. She is truly special in the growth of the throws program and showed me a lot of grit and poise today by nailing down a spot in the finals on her third attempt, she was facing elimination and came back big!"