MONMOUTH, Ore. --- The NCAA DII Cross Country West Regional Championships has become a familiar place for Biola, as both teams earned its fourth-straight bid to the big race. 

2023 Regionals are being held at the Ash Creek Preserve course in Monmouth, Oregon. The women's 6k race will kick off the festivities at 10:00 am and will be followed by the men's 10k race at 11:15 am. 

The Biola women are coming in fresh off a PacWest Championship two weeks ago. The BU squad was in good form with just 40 points, leading second place by 11. Bethany Mapes was the leading runner for the Eagles, nabbing third place in the race.

The sophomore is looking to have a repeat performance at the West Regionals. Mapes took eighth, individually, last year as a true freshman. Since the 2022 regional championships, Mapes has beaten that time of 21:27.4 twice, including her personal-best 6k mark at 21:01.6 at the 2023 PacWest Championships.

Biola is looking to continue its trend of improving finishes as a team at the regional championships. Since its first appearance in 2019, the Eagles have jumped from 14th place to fifth and then to third last season. 

Heading into Saturday's race, the Eagles rated second in the lastest USTFCCCA NCAA DII West Region Poll. BU ranked in the top three in the region all year but made the jump following their win at the PacWest Championships.

On the men's side, the Eagles boast the PacWest Individual Champion. Jerry Baltzer grabbed a career-best showing in the conference meet, finishing at 24:22.2 in the 8k. Baltzer took over late in the race to grab the second-consecutive individual championship for Biola.

The Eagles' squad has been a top-seven team in the region throughout the 2023 campaign. Entering the regional race, BU ranks sixth in the west.

Historically, Biola has been a top seven team at the race up in Oregon. The group has never finished below seventh place, while finishing sixth at the NCAA DII West Regional Championships twice.

Get all the important information and more at the championships central here.