SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- On your marks. Biola Track & Field ushers in a new era with the conclusion of the first meet of the 2015 indoor season, as Interim Head Coach Bill Crumley led a small contingent to the On Your Mark meet hosted by Westmont.
 
The Eagles saw three national qualifying standards met during this first action of the season, including two 'A' qualifiers, Anika Gasner and Nicole Falkenstein.
 
Falkenstein was the first one to hit the mark, sealing the fourth NAIA National Championship competition of her career. She won the women's pole vault with a mark of 3.48m, picking up 10 points for the women's team, which finished fifth overall. The second-place vaulters reached only 3.03m.
 
The next national qualifier, Gasner, picked up the 800m right where she left off last season, earning an 'A' qualifying mark with a race-winning 2:15.35. That time is four seconds faster than what she ran to earn All-GSAC in the same event at the end of last season.
 
"We were really pleased with everybody today," said Crumley. "We thought everyone did well for what we were looking for. We had some expectations that a few would have a shot at qualifying, and they did. That makes it a successful day for us."
 
Fresh of his GSAC Championship in cross country, Kevin Horchler got his final season of track started on the right note, winning the men's 3,500m with a time of 8:40.87. Horchler qualifies for nationals with that mark, but perhaps more impressive is that the second-place runner was a whole 15 seconds behind him. It was the only event Horchler ran on the day.
 
The Eagles took just 14 runners to this meet as the team continues to get competition ready. This made it so that Biola participated in just one relay, the 4x400m relay. Gasner, Morgan Dworak, Megan Ransom and Ilima Kung posted a second-place finish with a 4:09.33.
 
"It was a really great day. Since it was the first time out everybody was a little rusty, but it was a good experience, beautiful day and a lot of the parents of our local kids came out to support us, which was great," said Crumley.
 
Biola heads back up to Westmont on Friday for the annual Sunshine Indoor Meet.