IRVINE, Calif. --- Biola opened its track and field season on Saturday morning with Concordia's Leonard "Blu" Blutreich invitational. The Eagles nabbed two "A" qualifying standards and won six events as they competed with a limited squad in their season-opener.
 
Both "A" standards came on the women's side as the Eagles' 4x800m relay team won their event and Carrie Soholt took first place in the 3,000m.

The Eagles put up some great performances all day long despite the temperature in the 90s and the sticky humidity. 
 
Alexandra Sciarra, Anika Gasner, Alicia Hoverson and Lyndee Dawson were the dream team for Biola's 4x800m relay. They ran a 9:44.34 to qualify for nationals and set the best time in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics this year.
 
The Eagles' other first place finish on the women's side came by way of returning All-American pole-vaulter Nicole Falkenstein. Falkenstein vaulted to 3.27m to win the event. Fellow All-American Taylor McCahon tallied the same height to place second in the vault.
 
Freshman Megan Crumley set a Biola record by becoming the first woman to compete in the indoor weight throw. She placed ninth with a toss of 9.42m.
 
Jordan Smith led the way for the Eagles on the men's side with two first place finishes. He showed versatility by winning the 400m (:54.06) and the high jump (1.75m).
 
Marc Opena brought his A-game by winning the 60m hurdles with an :08.87. Christian Dunbar also had a solid day with a second and third place finish.
 
"We ran just a partial squad as the vast majority of the team did not go to this one," said Head Coach Jonathan Zimmerman. "For those who were there it was a great experience as we had some really positive results from both our upper classmen and our freshmen."
 
The Eagles return to action next Saturday at the Azusa Pacific Indoor Qualifier, and they are likely to run with a limited squad just like this week.