GULF SHORES, Ala. --- Biola's student-athletes are competitive year-round, but once a group of them gets to the national level of competition they seem to explode with success, and that is exactly what happened on day one of the 2014 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
Biola got great performances out of every student-athletes who competed on Thursday, resulting in finals qualifications out of all five student-athletes who competed in prelims.
 
"It was a great day today, as we saw two school records get set and all of our track events qualify for their respective finals," said Head Coach Jonathan Zimmerman. "Everyone is handling this long trip well. They are being professional and making it a business trip."
 
The Eagles handled their business on Thursday, including two student-athletes whose competition slate for this nationals trip is already over. Nicole Falkenstein and Taylor McCahon each competed in the pole vault finals on day one, and each topped out at 3.55m to finish in 10^th and 11^th place, respectively.
 
It was McCahon's last time vaulting for the Eagles, as she ends her career at Biola with four All-American honors and two individual Golden State Athletic Conference championships. She is flying back to California tonight to walk in her commencement ceremony tomorrow.
 
"She has been so awesome. Hats off to her, as she truly helped take our pole vault program to a new level," said Zimmerman.
 
Alexandra Sciarra is also a graduating senior, but she will not be walking tomorrow since she extended her trip by earning two finals appearances with her performance on Thursday afternoon. She set a new school record in the 400m hurdles (1:01.65) and led the contingent for Biola's 4x800m relay, which finished fourth quickest in the prelim race. It is the sixth consecutive season Biola has qualified a 4x800m relay team.
 
"We are so excited for tomorrow's 4x800m finals," said Zimmerman.

The Eagles' 4x800m relay team earned All-American honors with a fifth place finish last season. Anika Gasner is a returning member from that relay squad.
 
Kevin Horchler was the lone man competing for Biola, and he earned himself a spot in the 3,000m steeplechase final with a ninth place seeding (9:20.75). Lyndee Dawson will join him, as she qualified for the women's steeplechase finals with an 11^th place run (11:10.52). This is the eighth straight season the Eagles' have had at least one steeplechaser in the finals.
 
Kate Smiley gets in the mix tomorrow with the 100m prelims, Sciarra will take a stab at the 800m prelims and the fantastic four gets a go at the 4x800m finals.

For more information on the 2014 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships visit the tournament central page here.