LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- Twenty-three Eagles had swims to qualify them for Friday night's finals during the first session of the La Verne Collegiate Winter Invitational. It's day one of the three-day meet where the Eagles are gunning for season-bests and national cuts.

Twelve women and 11 men qualified for the evening finals session as day one of the competition featured a fun mix of events, including the 500-freestyle, 200-individual medley and 50-freestyle.

The Eagles' highest individual finisher in the morning was Liza Parahnevich in the women's 200-IM. She swam a 2:07.00-flat to place second in the event. It was just the second time this season Parahnevich swam the 200-IM competitively. It was a more-than four second improvement from her time at the Rodionoff Invite.

The women's 200-IM was Biola's most successful event on the morning as six BU women advanced to the 24-swimmer finals. Parahnevich was joined by Grace Kling (9th - 2:11.17), Jackie Mudd (13th - 2:12.06), Kasidee Pascoe (16th - 2:12.89), Katelyn Harper (19th - 2:13.33) and Anna Haaksma (22nd - 2:13.74).

The other Haaksma in the pool, Jacob Haaksma, had the men's best individual finish in the morning session. He was third in the men's 200-IM with a 1:55.31. It's his first time breaking 2:00.00 in the 200-IM in a collegiate meet. Haaksma was joined inside the top-10 in the 200-IM by a strong swim from Nathan Schwantes (7th - 1:56.50). Both men will be in the 'A' final this evening. This will be the only event featuring two Biolans in the 'A' swim.

Patrick Waggoner (14th - 1:59.25) and Gavin Souttere (16th - 1:59.70) will be in the 'B' finals heat.

Tanner Smith (4th- :21.39) and Kolya Vos (9th - :24.28) led the Biola effort in the stacked 50-freestyle fields. Both the men's and women's races were incredibly deep in the spring with 65 swimmers for the men and over 115 swimmers. On the men's side, Ethan Crabb (11th - :21.85) and James Gamette (17th - :22.10) will join Smith in the finals.

Biola had a great showing in the distance event, which is to be expected. Four men and five women made it through to the evening swims in the 500-free. Gabe Weber (11th - 4:48.38), Donatus Onu (12th - 4:49.20), Morgan Kampfer (12th - 5:11.04), Anna Cohee (14th - 5:11.22) and Audrey Vermeulen (16th - 5:11.22) highlighted that group as they will be through to the 'B' final.

Finals begins at 5 p.m. Friday with some diving events in-between. Follow along on meet mobile for live results and check back here for a finals recap later tonight. 

M 500 free
Gabe Weber - 11th - 4:48.38 (season-best)
Donatus Onu - 12th - 4:49.20 (season-best)
Colin Snyder - 19th - 4:52.68 (season-best)
Westin Dawe - 23rd - 4:55.58 (season-best)

W 500 free
Morgan Kampfer - 12th - 5:11.04 (season-best)
Anna Cohee - 14th - 5:11.22 (season-best)
Audrey Vermeulen - 16th - 5:15.06 (season-best)
Ashlynn Griffin - 22nd - 5:19.99 (season-best)
Sofia Chavez-Varela - 24th - 5:20.19 (season-best)

M 200 IM
Jacob Haaksma - 3rd - 1:55.31 (season-best)
Nathan Schwantes - 7th - 1:56.50 (season-best)
Patrick Waggoner - 14th - 1:59.25 (season-best)
Gavin Souttere - 16th - 1:59.70 (season-best)

W 200 IM
Liza Parahnevich - 2nd - 2:07.00 (season-best)
Grace Kling - 9th - 2:11.17 (season-best)
Jackie Mudd - 13th - 2:12.06 (season-best)
Kasidee Pascoe - 16th - 2:12.89 (season-best)
Katelyn Harper - 19th - 2:13.33 (season-best)
Anna Haaksma - 22nd - 2:13.74 (season-best)

M 50 free
Tanner Smith - 4th - :21.39 (season-best)
Ethan Crabb - 11th - :21.85 (season-best)
James Gamette - 17th - :22.10 (season-best)

W 50 free
Kolya Vos - 9th - :24.28 (season-best)