BEMIDJI -- The Bemidji State University men's and women's track and field teams wrapped up the 2007 indoor season Saturday in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Indoor Championships the Gillett Recreation/Fitness Center.
The Beaver men finished the two-day event in fourth place while the women took fifth.
The BSU men were led by a pair of All-NSIC performers. Joe Remitz gained second place in the shot put, recording his best throw of the season and moving up to fifth on the NCAA Division II performance list with a toss of 57-00.25. The junior was also selected as the 2007 NSIC Field Athlete of the Year by the league's coaches. He is just the sixth BSU student-athlete ever to win the award.
In addition to Remitz, Bemidji State student-athletes also finished in third and fourth in the shot put. Justin Cox was one spot behind Remitz in third with a throw of 51-11.75 while 2007 heptathlon Champion and Co-NSIC Newcomer of the Year, Zac Preble took fourth with a season-best toss of 48-09.50.
Preble followed Remitz as a Newcomer of the Year from BSU. He shared the 2007 award with Concordia-St. Paul's Kawaskii Bacon.
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On the track, senior mid-distance standout Todd Zeidler capped his collegiate indoor career with a pair of runner-up finishes. His day was highlighted by season-best 1:22.43 in the 600 while he competed in the 1,000 just 45 minutes later clocking a time of 2:36.86 to claim second place.
Also placing in the running events was Matt Bischoff. The senior took sixth in the 1,000 crossing the line in 2:40.06.
Wayne State overtook BSU on day two of the event en route to its second consecutive NSIC team championship. The Wildcats boasted seven event champions, 11 all-conference honorees and five student-athletes who garnered all-conference honorable mention status earning the title by 37 points over its nearest competitor, Northern State (110).
Concordia-St. Paul took third place with 106, BSU was fourth with 88 and MSU Moorhead and Mary (N.D.) rounded out the field with 55 and 51 respectively.
The women's portion of the competition was won by NSIC newcomer University of Mary. The Marauders ran away with the title scoring 166.50 as a team.
Wayne State claimed second place with 108.50 and Winona State was right on the Wildcats' heels in third with 106. MSU Moorhead finished right in front of BSU (50) with 77 points while Concordia-St. Paul (28) and Northern State (22) finished in sixth and seventh.
The Beavers were led by Shelby Hougen, who clocked a 2007-best 1:37.61 in the 600 meters for BSU's only championship on day two.
Nicole Friend and Sheena Devine also earned all-conference honors with each claiming second place in their respective events. Friend posted a season-best 1:00.05 400-meter time to finish second while Devine improved her season-best weight throw toss and moved to 21st on the NCAA Division II performance list with a throw of 53-01.50.
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Although the BSU teams have concluded the indoor season, there are still a number of Beaver athletes, including Devine and Remitz, that have provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in Boston, Mass. March 10-11. An announcement of the final participant list is expected next week.
2007 NSIC Indoor Individual Awards
Coach of the Year
Men: Marlon Brink, Wayne State
Women: Mike Thorson, Mary (N.D.)
Track Athlete of the Year
Men: Jake Hamik, Northern State
Women: Kylie Herian, Wayne State
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Field Athlete of the Year
Men: Joe Remitz, Bemidji State
Women: Jennifer Hensel, Minnesota State Moorhead
Newcomers of the Year
Men: Kawaskii Bacon, Concordia-St. Paul / Zac Preble, Bemidji State
Women: Cassie Blaser, Mary (N.D.)
