Feb. 3, 2007

ABERDEEN, S.D. - The Bemidji State University track and field teams took their show on the road Saturday to participate in the Northern State Open in Aberdeen, S.D. For the third consecutive week, the men’s and women’s field participants stood out with the throwers leading the way.

Junior Sheena Devine (Harris, Minn.) captured first place in the shot put with a 49-9 3/4-toss that not only stands a personal-best, it was also the top throw in NCAA Division II this season. She also took second in the weight throw with a distance of 48-11 3/4.

On the men’s side, Joe Remitz (North Branch, Minn.) swept the throwing events garnering the shot put title with a throw of 53-7 1/2 while recording a season-best 56-1 1/4 in the weight throw to close in on the NSIC’s top throw of the season.

Grabbing the Beavers’ only first place finish in a running event was Todd Zeidler (Plentywood, Mont.). The senior took top honors in the 800-meter run breaking the tape in a time of 1:59.82 despite running on the Barnett Center’s smaller 160-meter track.

Other standouts for BSU’s women were Nicole Friend (International Falls, Minn.) and Shelby Hougen (Bemidji, Minn.) Friend claimed second place in both the long jump, with a leap of 15-5 1/2 and in the 200-meter dash in a time of 27.73. Hougen captured second place in the 600-meeter dash clocking one of the top five times in the NSIC this season (1:42.42).

For the men, Jon Clemons (Princeton, Minn.) and Justin Cox (Menahga, Minn.) each turned in a pair of runner-up finishes. Clemons cleared six-feet in the high jump to garner second while his long jump measured 19-8. Cox finished right behind Remitz in each of the throwing events extending the tape to 51-11 3/4 in the weight throw while his shot flew 48-0 1/2.

The Bemidji State track and field teams will be back in action this weekend (Feb. 9) as they travel to St. Cloud, Minn. for the Husky Open. A portion of the team will also make a return trip to Aberdeen, S.D. for the 2007 NSIC Multi (Feb. 11-12).
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