AZUSA, Calif. --- It has been a slow start to the 2014 Biola Track and Field season, not because of irregular or inconsistent performances, but just because of the small contingent of the Eagles' squad that has been competing thus far.
 
Head Coach Jonathan Zimmerman has eased into the season through the first two weeks, taking a small group of his student-athletes to the meets hosted by Concordia and Azusa Pacific.
 
He chose a good group to go to this week's Azusa Pacific Indoor Qualifier as five different Biola athletes hit "A" qualifying standards to earn a spot at the NAIA Indoor National Championships.
 
"It is still very early in the indoor season and I am being cautiously optimistic with what we are accomplishing," said Zimmerman. "We have had a couple of meets to start us out and have only taken smaller number of participants, but over the next few weeks we will have everyone compete."
 
This week's damage was done by a duo of fantastic pole vaulters, a distance runner and two middle-distance females.
 
Taylor McCahon and Nicole Falkenstein started off the good day for Biola by going first and second in the pole vault, both reaching 3.48 meters and qualifying with an "A" standard.
 
McCahon returns to the NAIA Indoor Nationals after tying for seventh place last season, earning All-American honors. Falkenstein also made the trip to the national meet and earned a seventh place finish and All-American nod.
 
Alexandra Sciarra grabbed her second "A" standard of the season by running a 2:15.48 mark to place second in the 800m. Anika Gasner finished the event less than a second behind her to wrap up what is also her second "A" standard. It was both of their first individual qualification of the season.
 
Carrie Soholt earned the Eagles' only event win of the day, taking first place by a wide margin in the 5,000m. She ran a 17:59.32 to earn Biola's last qualifying time of the day and her second individual qualification of the season. She hit the other mark with a win in the 3,000m last weekend.
 
Lyndee Dawson also ran a solid effort, finishing just seven seconds off the place in the mile to finish fourth. Her and Soholt combine to prove just how strong the Eagles' distance team is this season. Alicia Hoverson and Kathleen Bell added to the great performance by the middle-distance contingent, going eighth and 10^th in the 800m, giving the Eagles four of the top 10 spots.
 
Shane Brinson, Kevin Horchler and Marc Opena each ran a top-5 finish in their events and set Biola up well on the men's side.
 
The invite featured unattached runners along with participants from Biola, Vanguard, Azusa Pacific, Westmont, Concordia, CSU San Marcos, Fresno Pacific, Marymount and SOKA.
 
"We need to do a good job of getting dialed-in to staying healthy and constant in our day-to-day efforts," said Zimmerman. "I am very pleased with the team synergy and positive attitudes. This is a very wonderful team to work with."
 
The Eagles' whole squad gets back into action next week with Saturday's meeting with La Verne.