NSIC Indoor Challenge awaits BSU Track & Field in Mankato, Minn.

The Bemidji State University track and field team will compete at the NSIC Indoor Challenge hosted by Minnesota State University, Mankato on Saturday, Feb. 15. The schedule of events begins at 11 a.m. with field events at the Myers Fieldhouse.

The Beavers rank among the top 25 in four events as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its weekly #EventSquad rankings. BSU ranks 10th in NCAA Division II in the 200-meter dash with an average time of 25.29, 11th in the shot put with an average throw of 41-feet-6.75-inches, 12th in the weight throw with an average toss of 51-3.75 and 16th in the 60m dash with an average time of 7.84.

Individually, Bemidji State features two student-athletes who rank among the top 25 nationally in three separate events. Junior sprinter Venice Stewart ranks 19th in the nation, sixth in the central region and fourth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a BSU program-record 7.60 60m dash set at the UND Indoor Open on Jan. 30. Sophomore thrower Zoe Christensen ranks eighth nationally, fourth in the region and first in the NSIC in the shot put with a personal record heave of 48- 9 set the Lake Superior Challenge last weekend. Christensen also ranks 24th nationally, 13th in the region and ninth in the NSIC with a BSU program record toss of 58-5.75 in the weight throw.

BSU also has five other marks that rank among the top 25 in the NCAA DII Central Region. Stewart ranks 10th in the region and fifth in the conference and senior sprinter Jada Barker ranks 20th in the region and 14th in the NSIC in the 200m dash. Sophomore mid-distance runner Ryne Prigge ranks 12th in the region and seventh in the conference in the 800m run, sophomore hurdler Faith Beck ranks 16th in the region and seventh in the league in the 60m hurdles, and freshman thrower Tierra Doss ranks 16th in the region and eighth in the NSIC in the shot put.

Bemidji State completed the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational and the Lake Superior Challenge last weekend. The Beaver throwers excelled in the weight throw and shot put events with five top-five finishes in six total entries. Christensen took wins in both events, setting a meet and facility record in the shot put. Christensen’s weight throw toss of 56-07.50 ranks fourth all-time in program history while her shot put toss ranks sixth.

Beck also took wins in both the 60m hurdles preliminary and the finals with times of 9.29 and 9.24, respectively. Junior Cheri’A Adams took BSU’s final event win of the meet in the long jump with a leap of 16-07.50. Three Beavers recorded second-place finishes, led by senior Jonae Bond in the 60m dash preliminaries and finals with times of 8.11 and 8.05, respectively. Senior Gena Baklund also earned a second-place finish with a personal record toss of 50-00.50 in the weight throw. Freshman Mckenzie Evans set a personal record with a second-place time of 2:30.56 in the 800m run.

At the Husker Invitational hosted by the University of Nebraska, Stewart took 22nd in the 60m dash with a time of 7.72 while sophomore Beatrice Kjelland took 41st in the event with a time of 7.95. Stewart also competed in the 200m dash with a 33rd-place time of 25.56.

In total, Bemidji State finished with 18 personal records set between both meets.