The Biola track and field team opened up their indoor season with a strong showing at the Westmont Sunshine Indoor Open at Westmont College on Saturday, Feb. 4. Biola quickly mustered up a total of five national qualifiers, including two relay teams.

Women’s medley earns national qualifier

The Biola women’s distance medley relay team qualified for the fourth consecutive year with a time of 12:14.89, easily blowing out the necessary qualifying time of 12:41. Participating in the relay were seniors Jane Kerner, Tayllor Lemphers, Brooke Forsi and Nychele Fischetti.

The women’s 4×400-meter team made up of Forsi, Lemphers, freshman Ashley Bush and sophomore Alexandra Sciarra also qualified, clocking in at 4:02.07.

Men’s freshman distance runner Kevin Horchler also qualified and earned a provisional mile time of 4:20.93. Horchler set a new personal record, beating his previous personal record by four seconds.

Sophomore Taylor McCahon pulled through for the Eagles after qualifying by clearing 3.48 meters on the pole vault and coming in first.

Senior Carissa Bowman kick started her last season with a strong showing at the meet as well, qualifying for the 3,000-meter for the second time in a row. She clocked in at 10:14.84.

Azusa Pacific University Cougars and the Westmont College Warriors were also top performing teams.

“I enjoyed seeing APU at the race, since it is the last year we have to race them in conference. We all want to do the best we can against them,” Horchler said. “They are a good team so it is exciting to get that competition going.”

Among the qualifiers were other solid performers for Biola. Junior Jordan Smith placed first in the high jump, clearing 6 feet 5 inches, and senior Gabe Aeschliman placed third in the 400-meter with a time of 49.60.

For the women junior Carly Tillery ran a third-place mile with a time of 5:46.71. Senior Clarissa Kenney placed third in the 1,000-meter, coming in at 3:12.90.

The Eagles will step out on the track again this Saturday, Feb. 11 at Azusa Pacific University to compete at the indoor event.