SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- Biola's distance runners had a chance to travel this weekend as the team hit the road north to compete in the San Francisco State Distance Carnival.
 
Head Coach Sean Henning had student-athletes participating in four women's events and three men's events during a solid day of competition in Northern California.
 
"I thought we did a really good job competing today. For the most part, I was happy with the heats we got put in and thought that collectively we competed well," said Henning. "I was happy that we were able to take advantage of some great weather and a nice racing atmosphere to get 20 personal bests in 31 races. Any time two-thirds of your team can get a new personal best, you know it was a good day."
 
The return of Anika Gasner was a major highlight from this meet. The senior, who hadn't competed since before indoor nationals, returned with confidence and ran well in the 1,500m. She was the Eagles' top finisher in that event and placed 32^nd in a field dominated by top-level NCAA competition.
 
Gasner finished her 1,500m run in 4:39, which was good enough for a 'B' standard in an event she already qualified for nationals in. She was not the only one to hit a standard in that event. Alisa Murray finished just two seconds behind her to hit the 'B' standard.
 
Also of significance in the race was the fact that five other student-athletes set a new personal-best in the 1,500m. Ilima Kung, Hannah Hunsaker, Melissa Ledesma, Stephanie Chaires and Delanie Eng all finished the event faster than they ever had before.
 
Andrew Daedler hit the 'B' qualifying standard in the men's 1,500 with a run of 3:56. He placed 25^h overall. Timmy Wilson just barely beat his previous personal-best in the 1,500m as he came in one second lower than he had before at 4:08.
 
Only the women had student-athletes competing in the 3,000m steeplechase, and it turned out to be a fantastic event for them. Lyndee Dawson set a new personal-best and qualified for nationals with her finish in 18^th place (10:48). Stephanie Croy did much of the same when she crossed the finish line 17 seconds later. Her time of 11:05 was a new personal-best by 27 seconds!
 
Alisa Murray and Hannah Hunsaker were among the few Eagles to compete in multiple events on Friday afternoon. The pair both ran in the 1,500m and then followed it up with a go in the 800m. Murray finished her race just a few seconds shy of a national qualifying time at 2:17. Hunsaker came in just two seconds behind her in an effort that set a new personal-best for the sophomore.
 
On the men's side Wes Noyes put out a strong effort in the 800m as he finished 40^th and set a new personal best with a 1:55.
 
"We had a great experience this weekend and everyone was very supportive of one another. You know you have a special team when everyone is excited to hear about how everyone else did. They are very supportive of one another," said Henning.
 
The team supported each other well during the 5,000m, which had a large contingent of student-athletes competing on both sides. On the men's side Ryan Thompson and Tim Seeberger were both competing in their first 5k ever. Thompson had an evenly paced race and finished with the Eagles' fastest time at 15:36. There were over 200 competitors in the men's 5k.
 
The women's side saw a field of 141 with seven competitors from Biola. Kellian Hunt led the way with a top-40 finish and a new national qualifying time at 17:24. Michelle Clark, Kaitlin Quaid and Kelly Thomas set new personal-bests and Emily Ransom, Kaili Waller and Mikaela Martin all ran the event for the first time. It was also Waller's first time running without an appendix.
 
Biola Track & Field is back in action next Saturday as it competes at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational on April 9.