LINCOLN, Neb. --- Despite single-digit temperatures and near-blizzard like conditions outside, the Biola University Track and Field team was heating up the track inside as six athletes competed at the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolf Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Friday.

Leading the way for the Eagles were Brian Ball and Kristin Schmidt, who placed second and third, respectively, in the 3000-meter run.

Ball finished the 3K in 8:41.36, a new personal best and an NAIA Automatic Qualifying time. He also plaecd eighth overall in the mile run in a time of 4:17.59, also earning an automatic berth in the NAIA Indoor National Championships next month in Johnson City, Tenn. He has now qualified in the 1,000, the 3,000, the 5,000 and the mile.

Schmidt had a great day, placing third in the 3,000 in 10:23.22 and fourth in the mile in a time of 5:10.55. Both times were personal bests and earned her an automatic spot at the NAIA Indoor Nationals.

Danielle Simpson recorded a pair of PRs with 11th place finishes in the mile (5:27.90) and the 3,000 (10:54.25). She dropped six seconds off her previous bests in both events.

Jared Bird picked up the other personal best on the day, running a 2:44.36 in the 1,000.

Freshman Mike Morin and Kyle McNulty rounded out the Eagle contingent, running in the 400 and the 800. McNulty finished with a 54.97 in the 400 and a 2:04.25 in the 800 while Morin ran a 59.79 in the 400 and a 2:16.00 in the 800.

Biola sent a small group over to Azusa Pacific to participate in the APU Last Chance Qualifier on Saturday (Feb. 17). The team's next action comes at the NAIA Indoor National Championships March 8-10 in Johnson City, Tenn.