IRVINE, Calif. --- The Biola women's cross country squad reaped the benefits of a stellar season on Friday. The PacWest announced the postseason awards, gifting top-tier honors to Biola coaches and runners.

The PacWest Coach of the Year was handed to head coach Sean Henning. The leader of the BU clubhouse helped the Eagles to their best season in program history in 2022. He also doubled-down as the men's co-Coach of the Year, as announced on Thursday.

The BU women's squad made history with a PacWest championship, third place at regionals and their first appearance at nationals. A young team impacted the whole west region, reaching as high as No. 12 in the USTFCCCA National Poll. The program was victorious in three meets in 2022, while finishing in the top three five times.

The best runner in the PacWest was Biola's Lynette Ruiz. The sophomore claimed the crown at the PacWest Championships in November and was selected as the PacWest Runner of the Year on Friday.

The second-year star found her groove in 2022, leading the Eagles to their first PacWest Championship. Ruiz posted three podium finishes in the season, while picking up an All-Region honor by placing 25th at the NCAA DII West Regionals. Her best time of the season came at the UC Riverside Invitational when she posted a mark of 21:12.5 in the 6k race.

Another individual award came through for the Eagles in Bethany Mapes. Mapes picked up the PacWest Freshman of the Year honor after an incredible start to her collegiate career.

The El Cajon, California native eased her way onto the scene, offering her best at the most important time of the year. Starting in the PacWest Championships, Mapes collected an eighth-place finish good enough for Second Team All-PacWest. The young talent did not slow down, maintaining her eight place but this time at regionals, setting her up for an All-Region honor. At the team's first nationals appearance, Mapes paced the squad and finished in the top-100 individuals.

Collectively, the BU squad sent 10 runners to the PacWest Championships in San Leandro, California. All 10 runners made the All-PacWest Teams. Ruiz was joined by Grace Catena in the All-PacWest First Team, as Catena took sixth place in the conference meet.

A flurry of Eagles landed on the All-PacWest Second Team, posting finishes between eighth and 14th place. The list of Biola Second Team All-PacWest award winners included Mapes, Ellie Stetina, Lolo Landrith, Hannah Champness and Britta Holmberg.

Three Eagles nabbed a Third Team All-PacWest nod, including Haleigh Guerrero, Karis Brown and Maggie Williams. The trio all finished within 15th-21st place at the PacWest Championships.

The BU group was the first to place every runner on the All-PacWest team in conference history. 

The BU cross country squad will now shift its focus to the upcoming 2023 track and field season upcoming in January.