Women's Collegiate Race Results | Men's Race Results

IRVINE, Calif. --- The No. 13-ranked Biola University women's cross country team took top honors in the Collegiate Race while the men's team had its best race in over two years at the UC Irvine Invitational Saturday on the UCI campus.

The Eagle women were first out of 10 teams, scoring just 26 points and placing eight runners in the top 22. The race was just about 4.5k after a course-marking error caused the runners in the first race to miss a turn and take an unplanned shortcut.

The men took 11th out of 20 teams and had a total team time which rivaled some of the NCAA Division I schools in the field.

Sophomore Kristin Schmidt placed second overall and was the top collegiate runner in the race, crossing the line in 17:04.40. Senior Anna Thibodo was right behind her, finishing in 17:09.50, good enough for sixth place.

Freshmen Katie Thede continued to look strong to start her collegiate career, placing ninth with a time of 17:19.10. Freshman Kelsey Gasner finishing in 11th (17:35.90) while senior Amanda Stephens  rounded out the scoring five in 14th place with a time of 17:42.20.

Rounding out the Eagle's top 10 finishers were freshman Kim Arroues in 17th (17:51.20), Erika Perez in 22nd (17:58.50), Sarah Brooks in 23rd (18:00.60), Connie Anderson in 33rd (18:20.70), Danielle Simpson in 35th (18:22.00).

Biola's men's squad ran a very strong race which Head Coach Jonathan Zimmerman called “probably the best overall men's race in at least four years.”

Senior Brian Ball was Biola's top male finisher, taking sixth place overall with a time of 24:44.40.

Freshman David Kostelyk had his best collegiate race thus far, finishing in 40th place in 26:09.40 followed by sophomore transfer Ryan Richert who took 50th place in 26:22.30.

Junior Jared Bird placed 97th with a time of 27:16.90 followed by freshman Carter Williams in 116th with a 27:36.00.

Also running for the Eagles were freshmen Rob Clarkson (27:56.80), Mike Morin (28:06.10) and Kyle McNulty (28:06.20).

Biola returns to action on Saturday (Sept. 15), running in the Westmont Invitational in Santa Barbara.