Christensen hits NCAA provisional mark as BSU completes Twin Ports Invite

Sophomore thrower Zoe Christensen hit an NCAA provisional qualifying mark and set two meet records to lead Bemidji State University track and field at the Twin Ports Invite on Saturday in Duluth, Minn. Christensen hit the national mark and set the meet record in the shot put and also set the meet record in the weight throw.

Christensen took first in both the shot put and weight throw with tosses of 46-feet-04.25-inches and 53-10.75, respectively. Her shot put throw currently ranks first among all student-athletes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference this season. Christensen’s personal record shot put mark ranks seventh all-time at BSU while her weight throw ranks third-best in program history.

Freshman Janice Cole led the sprinters with two event wins in the 60-meter dash and 200m dash with times of 8.00 and 26.38, respectively. Junior Venice Stewart also took an event win for the sprinters with a time of 1:00.02 in the 400m dash.

Junior Aneesa Tucker took first in the 600m run with a time of 1:46.11 while freshman Ryne Prigge took first in the 1000m run with a time of 3:03.53. Prigge’s time in the 1000m run ranks third-best in BSU program history as she now owns the top three times in the event. Senior Kristen Petron took third in the mile run with a time of 5:29.64 which ranks ninth all-time in program history.

Sophomore Faith Beck set personal records in the 60m hurdles and pole vault, taking first place in the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.23. Her pole vault mark of 10-06.00 ranks eighth-best in program history.

Junior Libby Christenson rounded out BSU’s event winners with a first-place finish in the high jump with a leap of 4-11.

In total, the Beavers set 22 personal record marks with 28 top-five finishes at the Twin Ports Invite.

Bemidji State continues its indoor season Saturday, Jan. 25 with the BSU Open at the Gillet Wellness Center in Bemidji, Minn.