SAN MARCOS, Calif.---The Biola track and field teams finished a busy day at the Mangrum Invitational where they participated in 25 events throughout the day.

The Eagles had a number of shining performances and collected four podium finishes, 12 top 10 finishes and had 41 athletes finish in the top half of participants in their events.

Jaden Murray (400m, 58.15), Maggie Williams (800m, 2:12.42), Britta Holmberg (3000S, 11:00.24) and Matthew Kaloustian (21.41, 200m) earned third place finishes.

Holmberg and Kaloustian recorded personal best times in their events. Holmberg, a senior from Eagle, Idaho, earned a personal best time of 11:00.24 in the 3000m steeplechase. She also acheived a NCAA provisional mark which ranks her fourth in the country. Kaloustian, a Freshman from Newport Beach, California, had a personal best time of 21.41 in the 200m dash.

"Matt Kaloustian ran really well in the 200m," reflected heach coach Sean Henning. "He improved his personal best and ran within .1 of our school record."

The Eagles had their most impressive group finishes in the men's and women's 1500m run.

All seven of the men's Eagles who ran in the 1500m place in the top half of participants. Melt von Melendorff paced the group with a ninth place finish and a time of 4:34.28. He was followed by Aidan Tomasini (14th,3:53.31), Jan Kuncicky (19th, 3:55.07), Charles Bailey (20th, 3:55.40), Rouxan Le Roux (28, 4:00.00), Ben Sonneland (31, 4:01.53) and Aidan Arredondo (32, 4:01.62).

Biola's women also had seven athletes place in the top half of entries. Bethany Mapes finished first with a time of 4:34.28 and she was followed by Susanne Bruenning (7th, 4:34.99), Hailey Wurzbach (16th, 4:44.40), Karis Brown (23rd, 4:49.03), Ella Voris (24th, 4:50.06), Lynette Ruiz (27th, 4:51.13) and Ellie Stetina (33rd, 4:55.59). 

"Bethany Mapes and Susi Bruennig had really solid days in the 1,500m," commented Henning. "Bethany ran a massive personal best and Susi raced for the first time this season and was within three seconds of her personal best." 

Henning continued, "Ella Voris also had a nice day, collecting heat wins in the 800 and 1500 respectively, continuing to develop in that event." 

BU's men also had impressive group performances in the 200m and 5000m.

Five Eagles in the men's 200m dash finished in the top half of individuals. Kaloustian led Biola with his third place podium finish and he was followed by Jack Sapyta (13th, 22.04), Donovan Tommy (17th, 22.17), Dylon Lovely (23rd, 22.47) and Jayden Bennett (24th, 22.47).

The men's team also had five athletes in the 5000m run place in the top half of 62 participants. Ryan Todd led the group with a 13th place finish and a time of 14:56.80. He was followed by Jerry Baltzer (16th, 14:58.02), Jacob Shirota (20th, 15:05.05), Jeremiah Echeverria (21st, 15:05.81) and Zachary Wallace (24th, 15:22.92). 

"In the 5K, Jerry Baltzer, Jeremiah Echeverria, and Ryan Todd all hit auto standards, which was the goal on the day," said Henning. "Perhaps the highlight was Zach Wallace running a massive personal best by 35 seconds and winning the second heat by 9 seconds!"

Biola's men had two top 10 finishes in the 400m hurdles. Stefan Jungmichel finished seventh with a time of 55.68 and Joaquin Ramirez was right behind him in eighth (55.74).

Additional team-leading track performances were Sapyta (400m, 7th, 48.85), Kelaiah Moore (100m, 28th, 12.95), Kaloustian (400m, 11th, 10.96) and Nick Gerginer (800m, 12th, 1:57.17).

For the field events, Biola had their strongest showing in the women's javelin. India Young led the trio of throwers who participated with a throw of 35.29m in sixth place. Behind her was Olivia Bellig (10th, 28.49m) and Jordyn Tipp (12th, 26.96m).

"India Young threw well in the javelin," stated Henning. "She is continuing to develop in the event which is great to see."

A.J. Antonio had the men's highest field event finish which was 11th in the long jump (6.22m).

Biola competes next tomorrow Saturday, Mar. 23 at the PLNU Track & Field Invitataional.