IRVINE, Calif.--- The Biola University women's cross country team received the majority vote by the PacWest Conference's coaches as the team to beat in Fall 2022. 

This year's coaches poll was extremely close with the top three teams receiving first place votes. Biola edged Academy of Art by one point and one first place vote. The Eagles were awarded 113 points with four first place votes while the Urban Nights received 112 points and four first place votes. Azusa Pacific rounded up third with 103 points and two first place nods. 
 
As a team, BU finished second overall in the 2021 PacWest Championships with just an one point differential between themselves and the Champions, Academy of Art. The Eagles proceeded to advance to the NCAA West Regionals where they placed fifth as a team, just one spot behind the pesky Urban Knights once again.

Biola returns the majority of their team, including some of their strongest legs from 2021. Lynette Ruiz, Grace Catena, and Britta Holmberg are three All-PacWest selections who are returning in the 2022 roster.

Ruiz was a standout freshman for the Eagles who was also the conference's Freshman of the Year and a First Team selection. Ruiz finished second in the PacWest Championships, trailing the Champion from ART U  by a mere four seconds. Ruiz continued to be BU's top finisher at the NCAA West Regionals with a 21st place finish.

Catena was an All-PacWest Second Team selection who finished 11th in the conference Championships and 66th at West Regionals. Holmberg, the final returning all-conference pick, received a third team PacWest placement, finishing 16th at the league's Championship and 46th in the NCAA West Regional. 

The Eagles first competition is Friday, September 9 at the Vanguard Invitational.