AZUSA, Calif. --- Biola opened the 2012 GSAC Track and Field Championships with four individual titles and a relay title as both the men's and women's teams wrapped up the first day of competition at the two-day event in second place. The conference meet is being held at Cougar Stadium on the Azusa Pacific University campus.

The Biola women's team scored 61 points on the first day which featured finals in seven events and trailed Azusa Pacific by just four points. On the men's side, the Eagles tallied 56 points, ten behind the front-running Cougars.

Biola had four individuals claim GSAC titles on the first day of competition: two on the men's side and two on the women's side.

The pole vault was swept by the Eagles with Taylor McCahon claiming the women's title and Alex Calkins taking home the men's title. McCahon cleared 3.60m (11 feet, 9.75 inches) in her first attempt to win. She is currently the top-seeded women's pole vaulter in the NAIA. Calkins vaulted 4.80m (15-9), matching his best of the season which is the sixth-best mark in the NAIA. Right behind Calkins was Jeff Tran, who took second by clearing 4.70m (15-5), earning an NAIA "B" standard with his best performance of the year.

Nychelle Fischetti continued Biola's dominance in the steeplechase, winning the event in a time of 11:02.27. She currently has the second-fastest time in the NAIAs this season.

The Biola distance teams helped score numerous points in the 10,000m. On the men's side, Collin Christensen won the GSAC title by edging out an APU runner for first place with a time of 32:06.26. Brian Aukshunas added a point with an eighth-place finish in 33:56.74.

On the women's side, Biola swept second through fifth places in the event to earn 23 total points. Jane Kerner took second in 38:56.75 followed by Katie Thede (38:59.44), Rachel Stump (39:04.48) and Kasey Schliach (39:16.44).

The women's 4x800 relay team cruised to a GSAC title as Thede, Carissa Bowman, Brooke Forsi and Alexandra Sciarra scored 10 points with a 9:28.13 finish.

The remaining 30 events (15 men's and 15 women's) take place on Saturday.