LOS ANGELES --- Kristen Schmidt dropped eight seconds off her personal best in the 1500 to lead Biola's track and field team at the Occidental College Invitational on Saturday, its final tuneup before the NAIA National Championships.

Schmidt is one of three Eagles to qualify for the NAIA Championships at Fresno Pacific University on May 24-26. She will be joined by Amanda Stephens and Brian Ball.

Schmidt blew past her previous best time in the 1500 with a time of 4:40.57, over eight seconds better than the 4:48 she ran at UC Irvine earlier this season. Schmidt, who is in her first year of collegiate compeition, has qualified in the 1500, 5000 and the 10,000.

Stephens earned a provisional qualfying mark in the 3000m steeplechase, racing to a 11:34.15, nearly seven seconds faster than her previous best. The qualfying mark in the event is 11:47.50.

Ball, a three-time NAIA All-American, is heading to his third championship this year after placing high in the cross country race in the fall and the indoor track championships in the winter. He has qualified in the 3000m steeplechase and the 5000.

The NAIA Track and Field National Championships will be held at Fresno Pacific May 24-26 on the same track that hosted this year's GSAC Championships. More information and results can be found on the FPU website at http://www.fresno.edu/trackandfield/.

Complete results from the Occidential College Invitational can be found by clicking here.