FULLERTON, Calif.---The Biola track & field teams eased into the Ben Brown Invitational by participating in 10 events on Friday.

"We had a lot of good success, including a new school record in the 5,000 meters by three seconds by Melt Von Molendorff," stated head coach Sean Henning. "Charlie Bailey and Aidan Tomasini ran within three seconds of the school record as well."

Henning added, "Bethany Mapes ran a school record in the 5,000 meters by three seconds and Lynette Ruiz was just two seconds off of it."

BU shined in the men's and women's 5000m run. The Eagles had 12 runners compete in the 5000m run and four breached the top half of participants. Melt von Molendorff led Biola, breaking the school recorded and finishing eighth, with a time of 14:27.56.

Charles Bailey and Aidan Tomasini also finished in the top portion of individuals. Bailey finished 18th with a time of 14:33.59 and Tomasini was right behind him in 19th (14:33.78). Jacob Shirota was right outside the top half, finishing 45th with a time of 14:53.01.

The Eagles had nine runners compete in the women's 5000m run. Bethany Mapes was Biola's first finisher, who also broke the school record in the 5000m. Mapes crossed the finish line 12th of 74 athletes with her record-breaking time of 16:50.87. 

BU had three other runners finish in the top half of participants in the 5000m run. Lynette Ruiz finished 15th (16:53.81), Hailey Wurzbach was 32nd (17:45.47) and Karis Brown placed 34th (17:49.04).

All of BU's runners in the 800m run finished in the top 10. Caleb Murphy earned Biola's highest finish of the day which was fourth place of 45 runners. Murphy recorded a speedy time of 1:53.16 in the 800m run which was also a personal best.

Ben Sonneland finished sixth with a time of 1:54.94 and Rouxan Le Roux was right behind him in seventh (1:55.34).

Maggie Williams was a top finisher in the women's 800, crossing the line seventh of 59 individuals with a time of 2:14.51. Ella Voris was also a top half finisher who placed 21st with a time of 2:21.31.

Six of Biola's 10 events that they competed in were field events. The Eagles had their most impressive field performances in the women's javelin throw and pole vault.

Reanna Maroon finished 10th of 19 athletes in the pole vault. Maroon earned a personal best mark of 3.53 which placed her in the top 10.

Biola had the most throwers participate in the women's javelin throw. Freshman India Young recorded a personal best throw of 33.03m which earned her eighth place of the 32 athletes competing. Olivia Bellig also finished in the top half of participants in her collegiate debut, placing 13th with a throw of 31.15m.

Biola begins their second day of the Ben Brown Invite tomorrow Saturday, Mar. 9 at 10 a.m.