SALEM, Ore. --- The top-ranked Biola University women's cross country team won its second meet of the season and the men's team ran the fastest team time in school history to place 11th overall on Saturday at the Williamette University Invitational held at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon.

The Eagle women scored 55 points to take top honors among 26 teams in the 5k Gold Race, narrowly edging out the University of Victoria, which scored 59. Biola placed eight runners in the top 49—three of which were freshmen.

Senior Kelsey Gasner placed second overall with a personal-best time of 17:31, beating her previous best time by 21 seconds. Senior Katie Thede and junior Nychele Fischetti placed 11th and 12th, respectively, Thede crossing in 17:59 while Fischetti finished in 18:01. Close behind was senior Sarah Brooks in 16th with a time of 18:11 and freshman Alexandra Sciarra took 25th in 18:25.

Rounding out Biola's squad was freshman Chelsea Janzen (33rd - 18:33), senior Danielle Calhoun (44th- 18:48), freshman Rebecca Asplund (49th - 19:00), juniors Carissa Bowman (71st - 19:16) and Jane Kerner (91st - 19:26) and sophomore Rachel Stump (97th - 19:43).

On the men's side, Biola placed 11th among 25 squads in the 8k Gold Race, finishing with a total team time of 2:10:02.70, the fastest time in school history. The previous best time was 2:11:13 which came back in the 2004 NAIA Region II Championships where the Eagles narrowly missed out on a berth to the NAIA National Championships.

All five of Biola's top runners finished with a personal best time, led by senior Ryan Richert, who placed 28th out of 290 runners with a time of 25:04. Brian Aukshunas also recorded a sub-26 minute time at 25:56, good enough for 85th place.

Biola's next three runners placed within 17 seconds of each other with Specner Lyle crossing in 26:12 followed by Danny Ledesma in 26:19 and Carter Williams in 26:29.

The Eagles return to action on Saturday, October 23, hosting some of the top NAIA teams at the Biola University Invitational held at Irvine Regional Park. Visit http://athletics.biola.edu/sports/2008/9/22/10BIOLAINVITE.aspx?id=117 for more information.