LA MIRADA, Calif. --- While their classmates wrap up finals, move out of their dorms and prepare for what is sure to be a fun-filled summer, 12 members of the Biola track and field team will instead be heading to Marion, Indiana for the 2010 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The Eagles look to continue their recent success with a strong showing at the championship meet, hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University, May 27-29. But due to the timing of the meet, they will have more on their minds this week than track.

Biola's school year comes to an end on Friday, meaning the members of the nationals track team will have to complete their final exams and move out of the dorms before leaving for Indiana early Tuesday
morning.

Two of the 12 are seniors, who will also miss graduation ceremonies. One of those seniors is Mike Morin, who qualified for his first NAIA Championships this season. Morin, who plans on returning for one final season of competition as a graduate student next year, should be about midway through the marathon while his classmates are receiving their diplomas back home.

The other senior is Kyle McNulty, who will compete in the men's steeplechase for the Eagles.

While it may be a busy week for the athletes, once they get to Indiana, the focus will shift to continuing Biola's recent track and field success.

The Eagles' track squad has grown in both numbers and talent under the direction of Head Coach Jonathan Zimmerman, who is in his fourth year at the helm. Zimmerman has increased the squad's numbers from around 20 to nearing 60 in just a few years. He has also helped recruit quality athletes to Biola, which has turned the squad into a contender at the national level each year.

Leading the group of qualifiers is junior Natasha Miller. Miller will be looking to add to her already impressive resume this week. She is a six-time NAIA National Champion, a three time-NAIA meet MVP and a 15-time NAIA All-American.

Last year, Miller was named the meet MVP after winning the heptathlon in dominating fashion and also taking top-honors in the high jump. She was successfully defended her indoor pentathlon title during the NAIA Indoor Championships in March and also won the high jump and 60m hurdles.

"Natasha is an outstanding competitor but has some good competition this year," said Zimmerman. "There is a girl from Black Hills State who has performed well and will give her a run for her money in the heptathlon as well as the 100m hurdles."

Miller is seeded first in the heptathlon, second in the high jump and third in the 100m hurdles.

Biola also has two other women's athletes seeded high in the championships: junior Kelsey Gasner and sophomore Nychele Fischetti. The talented duo has dominated the local steeplechase events this season and enter the championships seeded fifth and seventh, respectively.

Both runners earned All-American honors at the Indoor championships as part of the 4x800m relay team which finished fourth. They are also part of the same relay which is seeded fourth in the outdoor version
of the race which will begin trials on Thursday. The exact quartet of runners will be determined on the day of the event.

"It would be great to get into the 4x800 finals," said Zimmerman. "It would mark the fourth-straight trip to the finals if you include both indoor and outdoor championships. These ladies have worked hard to get here and have a good shot of making that happen."

Junior Sarah Brooks and sophomore Jane Kerner have also qualified in both the 5,000 and 10,000m runs in addition to the 4x800m relay. Kerner is seeded 11th in the 10k and 30th in the 5k with Brooks holding the 12th seed in the 10k and 21st in the 5k.

Junior Katie Thede is also expected to run in the 5,000m, qualifying as the 27th overall seed.

On the men's side, Biola has a pair of marathoners who will be competing on Saturday morning. Junior Carter Williams qualified with the 22nd fastest time and will join senior Mike Morin in the
long-distance event.

Senior Kyle McNulty who is competing within an hour of his hometown of Warsaw, Indiana, will compete in the men's steeplechase as the 23rd overall seed.

Biola is also represented on the field side with a pair of athletes for the first time in a number of years. Freshman Alex Calkins is seeded 20th in the pole vault and junior Ryan Hanson will compete in
the javelin where he enters as the 22nd seed.

Despite the hectic school schedule and lots of travel, Coach Zimmerman believes this team still has a lot to give out on the track this week.

"These kids are all gamers and will all get after it," he said. "They will reach down deep one last time and compete, then enjoy their summer breaks."

Competition begins on Thursday morning and runs through Saturday afternoon. Live scoring and results are available through the NAIA website by visiting http://naia.cstv.com/genrel/2010MWOTFChampionship.html.