SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- Saturday was such a beautiful day in La Mirada. Can you imagine how much more beautiful it was at picturesque Point Loma Nazarene University.
 
That was the wonderful backdrop that Biola Track & Field had as it competed at the Ross & Sheri Irwin College Scoring Meet on Saturday. It was the Eagles' second meet of the true outdoor season after returning from indoor nationals and the beginning of the team really falling back into rhythm.
 
Biola's men finished fifth of 11 teams and women placed third of 11 teams in an overall very strong day at the track for Head Coach Sean Henning's group. The women finished with 162.5 points to finish exactly 40 points back from the meet winner, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. (results unofficial)
 
"There were a lot of good things about today," said Henning. "We were very happy with how the team competed and look forward to bringing a group of sprinters, jumpers and throwers back to Point Loma next week."
 
One of the highlights of the day was the women's 1,500m where the Eagles had 10 women complete the race in five minutes or less and claimed eight of the top-15 spots in the field. Second and third place finishes from Lyndee Dawson and Kellian Hunt led the way. Dawson and Hunt also each hit the national qualifying standard with their efforts of 4:36. Alisa Murray finished eighth in the race and was just a second shy of the standard.
 
Andrew Daedler earned a win for the Eagles in the men's 1,500m. He completed the event in 3:56 to finish eight seconds ahead of the second-place runner and miss the qualifying standard by just under a second.
 
Two student-athletes were a bit more green out on the track on Saturday as they began their track & field season. Brandon Berz appeared in just his second race of the year (including cross country) and ran very well in the 800m (13^th – 2:01). Lauren Hoenecke, who joined track & field after an all-american career on Biola's volleyball team, competed in the first track meet of her life on Saturday. She finished in a tie for first in the women's high jump by clearing 1.60m.
 
"Lauren did the high jump in competition for the first time in her life, and I am very excited for her and what she can do this season," said Henning.
 
Emily Heisinger also had a banner day in the middle-distance events. She set a new personal best with a 1:00.40 in the 400m and was just shy of a new career best in the 200m.
 
It was another strong day for the Eagles' group of throwers as well. Dylan Fredenburg tossed a javelin 47.32m to set a new personal best. Also, Andy Cecil hit a new personal best with his hammer throw of 37.03m.
 
The Eagles get back at it next week with the Point Loma Collegiate Invitational on March 26.