Biola’s swim team had a reputable showing to start the 2009 Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference Championships Wednesday evening at Belmont Olympic Plaza in Long Beach. Wednesday served as a warm-up to the four day event of NCAA Division I, II and III schools and some fellow NAIA teams as well. This championship also is a prelude to the NAIA Championships in March.

Wednesday featured the 200 and 800 meter relay teams from both the men’s and women’s teams. The men’s 200 medley relay, composed of Ben Oviedo, Micah Perryman, Brian Shepard and Zachary Perkins, finished eighth with a time of 1:41.80, just over a half-second behind the seventh place team from Chapman. The men’s 800 free relay featuring Perkins, Oviedo, Paul Mendoza and Shepard swam swiftly to a season best time of 7:16.94 and placed seventh overall.

On the women’s side, the 200 medley team consisting of Rachel Sirjord, Hanna Lawman, Brittany Rosania and Emily Mosbacher opened with a speedy time of 1:54.64, finishing 10th place overall. The women’s 800 free relay, including April Smith, Sirjord, Amber Kiel and Sarah Warkentin, lowered its season best with a time of 8:08.80, placing ninth overall.