WOMEN'S RESULTS | MEN'S RESULTS
COSTA MESA, Calif. --- The Biola University women's cross country team finished second while the men's team took sixth overall at the 2007 Golden State Athletic Conference Championships at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday afternoon.
For the Biola women, ranked No. 7 in the latest NAIA National Ratings, placed seven runners in the top 29 to earn the best finish in school history at the conference meet. The Eagles were edged out of the top spot by No. 3 Azusa Pacific, which scored 57 points to claim its first team title since 2004. Biola recorded 66 points and edged out No. 11 Point Loma Nazarene in a tie-breaker for second-place.
On the men's side, Biola ran a strong race and finished sixth overall in a tight race for third through seventh place. No. 12 Vanguard took third with 95 points followed by No. 21 The Master's had 100, No. 25 Westmont recorded 107 with Biola just behind at 114. No. 5 Concordia won its third straight GSAC title, edging No. 3 Azusa Pacific by one point, 77-78.
The Eagles had a three runners earn All-GSAC honors. Sophomore Kristin Schmidt finished third overall in 18:06, nearly two minutes faster than her time in last year's meet when she placed 20th. Freshman Katie Thede finished eighth overall with a time of 18:30, followed by senior Anna Thibodo in 14th in 18:58.
Sophomore Amanda Stephens finished 21st in 19:17, sophomore Erika Perez crossed the line right behind in 22nd place in 19:18. Freshman Sarah Brooks finished 24th overall and edged Point Loma's Kristen McGregor who finished just behind to give Biola second overall.
For the Biola men, senior Brian Ball ran to a second place finish in a time of 25:02, earning All-GSAC honors. Freshman David Kostelyk took 13th overall, also earning All-GSAC honors, crossing the line in 26:04. Sophomore Ryan Richert finished17th in 26:16.
Biola received a strong showing from its fourth and fifth runners, junior Jared Bird and freshman Kyle Ross. Bird took 39th overall in a time of 27:26 while Ross finished 46th in 27:58.
“Both teams ran very well today,” said Biola Head Coach Jonathan Zimmerman. “On the women's team, we had our best finish in school history, showing how far this program has come in such a short amount of time.
“We had a great finish on the men's side as well,” Zimmerman said. “I am very proud of these guys. The third through seventh place teams were separated by just 25 points which means the NAIA Region II race should be a real donnybrook.”
The NAIA Region II race will be the next competition for the Biola cross country teams. The race is schedule for Saturday, November 3, at Woodward Park in Fresno.
