NAPERVILLE, Ill. --- Competition in the heptathlon at the PacWest Championships is wide open for someone like Kristin Belle to make a big impact. 

Belle comes to Biola after four years of varsity competition between Robinson High School in Virginia and Neuqua Valley High in Illinois and qualified for the New Balance Nationals meet in the high jump with her Dale City Lightning club team. 

Her personal best in the high jump would have earned second place in that portion of the heptathlon at the 2019 PacWest Championships while her best in the long jump would have put her in the top four in a second event. As a result of that strong foundation in the jumps and promise in other events, the Eagles are certainly looking forward to having Belle be their first representative in the heptathlon at the conference meet.  

The Illinois-native already has substantial championship experience under her belt as she moves to California. Belle qualified for four state meets in the triple jump and the high jump between indoor and outdoor competition and was part of a Nequa Valley girl's track team that earned a second-place finish at the IHSA 3A Metea Valley Sectional meet in 2019. She also qualified for 2015 Junior Olympics in the pentathlon and earned all-state recognition in the event when she finished fourth at the VHSL 6A State Championship in 2018. 

On top of all her athletic success, Belle is an accomplished musician who is a National Guild pianist and plays the viola in a philharmonic orchestra. She plans to hone her skills by majoring in music with a commercial music concentration and is hopeful for what will happen during her college years; Belle expressed her eagerness to see what God may have for her in the music industry as well as her confidence that being at Biola will help her develop holistically. 

"I chose Biola because there is a wonderful balance of academics and a Christ-like community that will allow me to thrive," said Belle. "I am also excited to train and compete in the heptathlon! I look forward to training with a talented team that I can learn from and that will help me grow."

Biola's Student Enrichment and Intercultural Development department has also welcomed Belle to its LEAD Scholars program because of her passion for cultivating diverse community and her excellence in academics. Belle earned four scholar athlete awards, AB Honor Roll recognitions at Robinson and was a Neuqua Honors Recipient as a result of her 3.95 GPA during high school. She also lettered in music, has been playing piano for her church for four years and enjoys writing music in her free time. 

Kristin Belle will join her new teammates this coming fall as the Eagles prepare for the 2021 outdoor track season. More information on the incoming 2020-21 class that will join her at Biola can be found on the Committed Athletes page.