Biola finished up its indoor track and field regular season at the Azusa Pacific Last Chance meet on Saturday, Feb. 18. This meet did not bring about any new national qualifiers for the Eagles, but it did allow for some improvement in those who have already qualified.
Recording the best of her indoor season so far, sophomore Taylor McCahon was able to take home the win in the women’s vault while improving her personal best to 3.6 meters. Junior Alex Calkins stole the win in the men’s vault by also making his best mark of the season, clearing 4.55 meters.
Four mile runners earn personal best’s
Biola picked up eight more personal bests throughout the remaining events. In the mile, four personal best times were recorded. For the women, senior Carly Tillery crossed the finish line in 5.41.44, taking the No. 7 spot in her category. Junior Joseph Harabedian finished in 4.36.24, sophomore Kyle Norman came in at 4.41.08 and sophomore Scott Weir finished in 4.43.37. All three improved their personal records.
Freshman Maggie Anderson added on to these improvements, recording a time of 9.54 in the 60-meter hurdles, missing the national cut by a mere quarter of a second.
For the women, sophomore Ashley Bush and freshman Tayllor Lemphers recorded some of their better times, which allowed them to place third and fifth in the 400-meter dash.
“I managed to run a season’s best time despite my sickness,” Lemphers said. “I can’t wait until the outdoor season when I can run it again, and hopefully beat my PR of 57.89.”
Senior Tyler Sharp also had a personal best in the event, recording a time of 49.95.
“I go into a race just wanting to improve my time from the last race,” said sophomore Christian Dunbar, who is new to Biola’s track and field team this year. “When I’m out there, I’m competing against other runners, but the real competition is myself. Overall, I just want to go out on the track and at the end of the day know that I did my best while still representing Christ in the way that I should.”
Lemphers also mentioned the aspect of Christ in competitions.
“Giving God the glory is not only my ultimate individual goal, but the goal of the team,” she said. “That is something that is so beautiful and unique about running for Biola.”
Biola will send 17 athletes to the NAIA Indoor National Championships from March 1 through March 3 at the SPIRE Institute Sports Complex in Geneva, Ohio.
