Over the past three years, Gabriel Schmid has become the most accomplished runner in Orange High history. On Wednesday afternoon, Schmid formally signed his letter of intent to run for the N.C. State men’s cross country team, which has won 16 Atlantic Coast Conference championships and nine Southeast Regional championships. Schmid is just the second runner in school history to win a state championship in cross country. He has two individual state championships, winning the 2022 title as a junior and once again in November as a senior. Unlike the summer of 2022, Schmid didn’t have the ability to train last summer because of a foot injury. Nonetheless, he helped the Orange men’s cross country team win the Central Conference championship and the 3A Mideast Regional championship. It was the second regional team title that Schmid helped Orange win. In addition to cross country, Schmid has won four 3A Mideast Regional championships in outdoor track & field in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Last year, he won the 3,200 meters state championship at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro. Schmid also competed in the Foot Locker National Championships in San Diego last month. The ceremony to honor Schmid starts his final chapter with the Panthers. He will compete this indoor season for the Orange Track and Field team. He will then enroll at N.C. State in the spring. Gabriel’s mother, Gretchen, was on hand for the ceremony on Wednesday, as was his brother Grant.