Los Angeles, Calif. --- Biola's distance squad kicked off its outdoor season at the 2010 Occidental Distance Carnival Friday night. The meet is a perennial favorite of the Eagles' squad as it features competition from NCAA DI, II, III and NAIA levels and is one of the few that are held at night under stadium lights, featuring only distance events.

A total of six Biola runners opened the meet with the 800 meter run. Sophomore Clarissa Kenney ran a personal record 2:23.91 while freshman Brooklin Brummund made her outdoor debut, running a 2:29.57 respectively. Sophomores Mark Weller and Matt Arroues won each of their respective heats with times of 1:59.19 and 2:05.92. Freshman Ben Jacuk rounded out the group with a 2:08.49.

Brian Aukshunas, a sophomore transfer from Boston College, made the most of his outdoor debut as an Eagle by winning his 1500 meter run heat with a 4:15.83. In the succeeding heat, Joseph Harabedian completed the event with a 4:29.67. Harabedian had a tough double for the night meet, as he was also the lone representative for Biola in the 5,000 meter run an hour and a half later.

Senior Kyle McNulty and freshman Spencer Lyle inaugurated the outdoor season with performances in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. The event includes a 3,000 meter run with wooden barriers, one with a water pit after it, which must be cleared five times per lap. McNulty was five seconds off of the NAIA provisional qualifying time with a 9:45.83, finishing before every other GSAC competitor in the race. Lyle made his debut in the event with a 10:10.57. Sophomore Katie Sikkelee set a new personal record for the event, running a 13:06.88.

Rounding out the competition were seniors Ryan Richert and Mike Morin in the 10,000 meter run. One week after running in the NAIA Indoor Championships, Richert punched his ticket to the Outdoor Championships running a 32:18.02, meeting the provisional standard qualification time. Morin made his return to the track after a season ending injury prevented him from competing last year, clocking a 34:17.55 for the twenty-five lap race.

The Eagles return to action on Saturday, March 27th with a complete squad competing at the Westmont Quad-Meet.