Editor's Note: This is the ninth in a 10-part series recapping the Top 10 sports moments of the 2009-10 year at Biola as compiled by the Biola Sports Information Office. A new moment will be revealed each day with the top moment of the year announced on Friday, June 18. See the bottom of the page for a schedule of releases and links to past moments.
Despite windy and wet conditions, the Biola women's cross country team capped an impressive season with a strong second-place finish at the 2009 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships on November 21 at Fort Vancouver Park in Vancouver, Washington.
The Eagles finished just three points out of first and placed all five scorers in the top 41. The second place overall finish was the best in the program's history as Biola stunned the field, moving up from being seeded fourth overall. The Eagles were the top finisher from the conference, beating out arch-rival and GSAC champion Azusa Pacific, which entered as the No. 2 seed but finished fifth overall.
The second-place overall finish was the best in the program's history and just the second NAIA Runner-up finish by any sport at Biola since volleyball lost in the championship final in 1997.
Biola ran one of the best team races in school history as all five runners finished within 36 seconds of each other and all among the top 41 in the field of 336 racers. Junior
Katie Thede was Biola's top finisher, taking 16th place overall with a time of 18:46. Fellow junior
Sarah Brooks was not far behind, crossing the line in 18:48 for 18th place. Sophomore
Nychele Fischetti took 30th overall in 19:11 followed by juinor
Kelsey Gasner in 35th in 19:19 and junior
Carissa Bowman in 41st in 19:22.
COMPLETE RECAP |
RESULTS
Top 10 Biola Sports Moments of 2009-10
#1 – Friday, June 18
#2 – Cross Country Places Second at the NAIA Championships
#3 – April Smith Becomes Biola's First Swimming National Champion
#4 – Men's Soccer Reaches NAIA Quarterfinals with Yet Another Shootout Win
#5 – Hampton Scores 32 to Lead Men's Basketball to NAIA Quarterfinals
#6 – Volleyball Upsets No. 3 Concordia in Irvine
#7 – Baseball's Vinnie Fayard Hits Four Home Runs Including 10th-Inning Walk Off
#8 – Men's Soccer Beats Azusa for Second Time to Reach GSAC Finals
#9 – Women's Tennis Upsets No. 18 Westmont, Earns First National Ranking in a Decade
#10 – Women's Basketball Knocks Off No. 2 Point Loma Nazarene
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