Anna Shields is the best athlete in Point Park history. Period.

Over fall break, Shields competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Cross Country Nationals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Out of 339 runners, she won by four seconds.

If that is not enough to convince you, Shields ran a time of 17:15, a course record for the venue.

This win was her first national championship for cross country, but it is far from new to the senior standout. She now holds a combined six NAIA national championships and ten NAIA All-American honors between cross country and track and field under her belt.

Believe me now? No? Let me continue.

Shields finished 12th in last year’s national meet, a personal best for her at the time, which was enough to win her NAIA All-American status for the meet.

Just a few days after this honor, Shields was named the NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA). This completes what Point Park Sports Information Director Kevin Taylor calls the “triple crown” of national titles from the USTFCCCA –  now actively holding the honors for cross country in addition to indoor and outdoor track.

This marks Shields’ fourth national athlete of the year title – most athletes do not even get one.

She has won six meets at various levels: the NAIA level, NCAA Division I level and NCAA Division II level.

The best 5K time in the NAIA this year? 17:03, also belonging to Shields from Louisville earlier this season.

She is the most decorated and celebrated athlete in the history of Point Park athletics, and rightfully so.

It is easy for us to take an athlete like this for granted. It seems that every day she has broken or set another record or won another meet.

We are witnessing history, both at the Point Park level and at the NAIA level, and we should be aware of how lucky we are to see and cover an athlete as special as Anna Shields.