BROOKINGS, S.D. – Jaiden Peraza earned All-American honors Friday as he took fourth place in high jump at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships.
 
Peraza successfully cleared the bar at 2.05 meters (6 feet, 8.75 inches) to take fourth place out of 30 competitors from around the nation. He was eliminated at the 2.08 meter height, which would have been a PR for Peraza.
 
The VCSU sophomore was successful on his first three jumps of the day, advancing past 1.97 meters, 2.02 meters and 2.05 meters on his first attempt at each height.
 
That proved critical for final placement as he won a tiebreaker over four other jumpers based on his clean early heights. He was one of just three athletes that cleared the first three heights without a miss.
 
Peraza entered the competition ranked 13^th in the NAIA, but rose to the occasion Friday to earn his first career All-American honor. Peraza's final height of 2.05 meters was just shy of his personal record of 2.06 meters set earlier this season.
 
Michael Millslagle of Graceland won the national title by clearing 2.14 meters (7 feet, 0.25 inches).
 
Peraza also competed in the long jump on Friday immediately after the high jump competition. He leaped 6.84 meters (22 feet, 5.25 inches) in the long jump, placing 18^th out of 25 competitors. He entered the long jump ranked 22^nd, but just like the high jump he finished much higher than his pre-meet ranking.

Meet Results
 
Up next: Valley City State track and field shifts its focus to the outdoor season which begins March 22-23 in Spearfish, S.D.