GULF SHORES, Ala. --- Biola is back in a place it has consistently found itself at this time of year over the past nine years, the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. Ever since Head Coach Jonathan Zimmerman began his reign in the mid-2000s the men and women's team have sent a contingent of student-athletes to this illustrious events.
 
This year's team is set to compete in Gulf Shores, Alabama from Thursday through Saturday and aims to contend with the six NAIA All-American honors that last year's contingent brought home.
 
Returning to the outdoor nationals this year is Nicole Falkenstein, Anika Gasner, Kevin Horchler, Taylor McCahon and Alexandra Sciarra, while newcomers Brooke Arvidson, Lyndee Dawson and Kate Smiley join them.
 
Falkenstein and McCahon stake their claim to fame in the pole vault. They will both compete in that event early in the nationals trip, and they will know if they can add to their six combined All-American honors by Thursday evening.
 
Gasner qualified and competes in the 4x800m relay. She is already a part of the school record in that event, and she has five total All-American awards over her first year and a half of nationals competition. She can get one of the four more honors she needs to tie her sister, Kelsey, at this event.
 
Sciarra is a graduating senior who is missing her graduation ceremony in order to compete for her school at this outdoor national championships. It is her second appearance at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She ran the 400m hurdles in 2012. This year she has a chance to add to her seven career All-American honors when she competes in the 4x800m relay, 400m hurdles and 800m.
 
Arvidson, Dawson and Smiley each make their first trip to the outdoor national championships. They will compete in various events throughout the weekend, including 100m, 4x800m relay and the 3,000m steeplechase. Dawson earned her first All-American nod at this year's NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Smiley and Arvidson seek their first national honors.
 
Horchler is the lone representative on the men's squad. He qualified for his fifth career NAIA nationals event across indoor and outdoor track and field and cross country. He will run the 3,000m steeplechase and seek his first career All-American finish.
 
Get instant updates on breaking track & field news by following @BiolaAthletics on Twitter and checking up on the 2014 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships Tournament Central page here.