WOMEN'S RESULTS
MEN'S RESULTS

IRVINE, Calif. --- The Biola cross country teams opened the 2009 campaign with an impressive early-season showing at the UC Irvine Invitational as the women's team placed fourth and the men's team took 11th in a crowded field which featured some of the best teams in the area.

For the Eagles' women's team, it was the first chance to race as the NAIA's No. 3 ranked team--and they did not disappoint. Biola finished fourth out of the 13 teams in the top flight, beating seven NCAA Division I teams. NCAA Division I Cal Poly San Luis Obispo took top honors overall, followed by NCAA Division II No. 7-ranked Chico State and NAIA No. 6 Cal State San Marcos. Biola finished just 21 points behind San Marcos, and 52 points ahead of NAIA No. 4-ranked Concordia, which placed sixth.

Biola's total team time of 1:33.13 was1:39 off its total time from last season's race. The Eagles also had just a 54-second gap between its 1st-5th place finishers.

Leading the way for Biola was sophomore Nychelle Fischetti, who finished 14th overall in a time of 18:08.2. Junior Katie Thede was not too far behind, taking 23rd overall in 28:31.70. Juniors Sarah Brooks and Danielle Calhoun finished 31st (18.45.70) and 32nd (18:46.10), respectively. The Eagles' fifth-place finisher was sophomore Carissa Bowman, who took 49th overall with a time of 19:02.20.

Rounding out the contingent for Biola was junior Kelsey Gasner (53rd - 19:06.60), junior Erika Perez (67th - 19:16.80), freshman Rachel Stump (107th - 20:13.30), and freshman Brooke Brummand (127th - 21:14.60).

The Biola men's team continued its steady improvement, cutting over five minutes off their team time from last season to finish 11th out of the varsity programs in the 16-team field.

Senior Ryan Richert was Biola's top finisher, cross the line in 26:30.80 for 51st-place overall.  Richert missed the entire 2008 season after suffering life-threatening injuries when hit by a car while riding his bike home from school in late 2007.

Fellow senior Kyle McNulty took 84th overall with a strong time of 27:15.10 while freshman Spencer Lyle placed 112th in a time of 27:54.30. Rouding out the scoring five for the Eagles were juniors Carter Williams and Evan Thibodeau, who finished back-to-back in 122nd (28.09.00) and 123rd (28.09.20) overall.

"I thought it was a superb first meet effort for us on both sides," said Head Coach Jonathan Zimmmerman. "We had good focus out there and good Fun and yet also had certainly that everyone knows there is room for improvement."

Biola returns to the course on Saturday (Sept. 19), traveling to Riverside for the UC Riverside Invitational at the Ag/Ops Cross Country Course. The women's race begins at 7:30 a.m. with the men's race starting at 8:30 a.m.