The men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in Golden State Athletic Conference Championship meet over the weekend, the women placed second overall and the men came in fifth place.

The women’s team fell short of becoming three-time conference championship, finishing 56 points behind Westmont College.

EDGING HER OPPONENT

Junior Elyse Harabedian claimed her first conference championship in the heptathlon, edging her opponent out by two points. Harabedian also placed second in both the 200 meter and 800 meter run and placed first in the high jump, long jump and 100 meter hurdles.

Fellow Junior Anika Gasner brought Biola an individual conference championship in the 1,500 meter race with a time of 4:34.94.

The women took three second place finishes in the meet. Junior Kate Smiley finished the 200 meter dash with a time of 25.04, just 0.91 seconds away from the first place finisher from Vanguard University.

Gasner got another top finish in the 800 meter, placing third with a time of 2:15.42 to qualify for Nationals. Smiley also got a top three finish, earning a third place finish in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 15.64.

The 4x800 meter relay team comprised of Kathleen Bell, Michelle Clark, Brooke Arvidson and Alisa Murray took home a second place finish a time of 9:17.69.

AN IMPRESSIVE SHOWING

The women also had impressive showings in the field events. Senior Nichole Falkenstein and freshman Christiana Clark got first and second finishes in the pole vault. Freshman Teddi Wright jumped 11.27 meter in the triple jump to earn second place. Junior Megan Crumley got second place in both the hammer and javelin throw.

The men’s team placed fifth in meet, with seven top three finishes to finish fifth overall.

Senior Andrew Daedler finished third in the 1500 meter run with a 3:58.08, shaving almost five seconds off his prelims time. Fellow senior Kevin Horchler placed second in the 5,000 meter run, 10 seconds behind the Joshua Sherfey from The Masters College. Horchler also placed first in the 1000 meter run.

Biola will train over the next few weeks for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championship meet on May 21. The Eagles have eight athletes who have qualified to go to the meet.