MONTEREY PARK, Calif. --- Just as we expected day one of the Collegiate Winter Invite was FAST. Biola saw a school record fall and also got its first-ever NCAA Division II provisional qualifying time. Both belong to Kellynn Hayes and came in a 500-freestyle event that was one of many highlights for Biola.

Hayes completed the 500-freestyle finals in 5:03.70 to smash the school record of 5:05.50 set back in February 2018. The freshman came into this weekend's meet with a season-best of 5:18.85 and lifetime-best of 5:04.64, set at her high school sectionals meet. The 5:03.70 is a 'B' cut for NCAA nationals, which had a threshold of 5:04.82.

"The race tonight felt smooth and strong but hurt more than this morning's prelim race," said Hayes. "My teammates next to me really pushed me in the beginning of the race where I really needed it most! I feel so proud that I am blessed to say I already hold a record. I really owe it to my coaches and amazing teammates that have built me up and pushed me pass any point I thought I could be at."

The 500-free was a marquee event for BU, with the Eagles finishing first (Hayes), second (Kolya Vos - 5:11.79) and third (Audrey Vermeulen - 5:12.06) to score a bunch in one event.

Those points helped Biola hold a solid lead in the standings following day one at East LA College. The men and women's swimmers in Head Coach Ryan Kauth's program combined for 1,588.5 day-one points to sit first overall. Concordia Irvine is the most intense competition for the title, but those Eagles are a ways back at 1296.5.

"I already think the team has done amazing! We had lots of season-best and even some personal-best," said Hayes. "I think the coolest thing today was seeing the amount of Biola people that made it into finals. As a team we are just getting started and there will be many more fast swims!"

Hayes' win was the only individual title on the day. But both sides got relay wins in the 400-medley relay. On the men's side Clayton Owens, Colin Reeve, Raymond Kam and Patrick Waggoner went 3:29.38 to win by just over three seconds over Concordia. Biola took three of the top-5 spots in the men's relay, showing tremendous depth.

The women's 400-medley relay was led by Nicole Chang, Anna Haaksma, Liza Parahnevich and Vos. Those ladies went 3:57.90 to win by a remarkable 11 full seconds. The Eagles also had a strong showing on the women's side with all four teams placing in the top-7 or so.

Parahnevich, Haaksma and Chang were also a part of Biola's other top relay on the day. They combined with Kasidee Pascoe to go 1:39.44 in the 200-freestyle relay and finish runner-up. The men's contingent went third in the other relay.

Despite just winning the one race, Biola got tremendous performances up and down the board in the individual events. Thirteen swimmers earned top-5 finishes, including nine of those finishing top-3. 

The 200-IM was one of the strongest events on both sides for BU. Liza Parahnevich went 2:06.87 to finish second on the women's side. It was a season-best by just about two-and-a-half seconds and just about one second off an NCAA cut. She'll be gunning for that later in the season for sure. Katelyn Harper also had a great race in the 200-IM, finishing third with a season-best of 2:11.07.

The men's race saw Patrick Waggoner claim a runner-up finish of his own. He went 1:55.70 to end up 10 seconds faster than his previous season-best. His lifetime best is about equal to that at 1:55.69, set at sectionals back in March. Waggoner recorded top-3 finishes in the 200-freestyle relay, this event and the 400-medley relay in a fantastic opening day.

Kolya Vos had a very similar day for the women's team. She, of course, finished second in the 500-freestyle just behind Hayes' record-breaking effort, but she also added a third-place finish in the 50-freestyle (:24.42) and was a part of a top relay. The time in the 50-free is almost a full second faster than her previous season-best, which is HUGE in the quick event. It was also her new lifetime best.

"Kolya Vos really had a great first day pushing herself to a new level, by swimming five individuals just today while being there for her teammates," said Hayes. 

Tanner Smith (1:56.56) finished third in the 200-IM to round out all the individual top-3 marks.

The Winter Invite continues on Saturday and Sunday with Biola anticipating much more in terms of notable finishes. See the full schedule below and follow along each day via the Meet Mobile App.

Saturday, December 6
400-IM (P/F)
100-butterfly (P/F)
200-freestyle (P/F)
100-breaststroke (P/F)
100-backstroke (P/F)
200-medley relay (F)
800-freestyle relay (F)

Sunday, December 7
100-IM (P/F)
200-backstroke (P/F)
100-freestyle (P/F)
200-breaststroke (P/F)
200-butterfly (P/F)
1,650-freestyle (F)
400-freestyle relay (F)