The men’s and women’s track team traveled to Geneva, Ohio to compete in the NAIA Indoor Nationals meet. Both teams not only brought home top finishes in the meet, but they also shattered some school records in the process.
Strong beginnings
The women’s 4×400 relay team was the first team to break a school record on day one. Sophomores Kate Smiley and Kathleen Bell and freshmen Megan Ransom and Bethany Smith combined their talents to shave off seven seconds of the previous school record to finish with a time of 4:12.33.
The men’s distance medley relay team broke the school record with a time of 10:11.86 to finish 13th overall.
“Right before the race we had prayed and that really brought a peace of mind,” senior Danny Ledesma said. “We had confidence because we put in the training so we knew we were ready.”
Women’s team continues traditions
The women shined on the second day and produced six NAIA All-American finishes.
Sophomore Nicole Falkenstein and senior Taylor McCahon both brought top honors in the pole vault. McCahon came in eighth place while Falkenstein set the new school record for pole vault after her 3.68 meter jump that put her in fourth place.
The 4×800 relay team also had a fourth place finish at 9:14:46. It is the fifth year in a row that Biola has achieved All-American standings in this event.
“Our goal was to do what we’ve done every year,” senior Alexandra Scarria said. “We just wanted to go out there and do business as usual and compete well with the other teams .”
Top ten finishes
On the final day of the meet, the Eagles were able to break two more school records, one of which helped secure the women’s team 10th place overall finish.
Scarria broke her own record in the 800 meter race with a time of 2:11.73 to earn a third place finish.
Senior Danny Ledesma was the sole representative the men’s team on the final day. Ledesma shattered the previous school record in the 3,000 meter race and put him eighth overall with a time of 8:29:25. He is also the first runner in Biola’s history to earn an All-American finish in this event.
“This is my last season so I was motivated in every workout and training as hard as I could,” Ledesma said. “Being on the line and knowing that I was ready and that the conditions were perfect. It was exciting to break two records.”
The track and field teams are now preparing for the outdoor season. The first meet will be at Occidental College on March 14.
