In somewhat of a homecoming, Bemidji State sprinter Buerkle will compete in her first national championship meet. Buerkle was born in El Paso, Tex., and still has family in the area.
The sophomore improved on her time throughout the season and hopes to continue to improve heading into the national championship meet. While provisionally qualifying for the national meet, Buerkle’s time moved her into the eleventh spot. She is looking forward to the level of competition she will face.
“I’m really excited,” said Buerkle. “I don’t really know what to expect yet, so I’m just going to go out there and plan to run my best.”
Buerkle qualified for
the NCAA tournament for her efforts in the Beaver Twilight Feb. 19.
BSU’s sprinter recorded a time of 57.26 in the 400-meter dash,
which also broke her own school-record from the 2008 indoor season.
Buerkle improved on her time at the NSIC championships this past
weekend, the sophomore crossed the line in 57.03. In the process,
Buerkle improved on her previous provisional qualifying time for the
National Championships, moving into the eleventh spot. Buerkle is one
of thirty women track and field athletes from the NSIC to qualify for
the NCAA championships.
Head coach Craig Hougen,
in his 20th season as head coach of the Beavers, once again will lead
his athletes into the national championship meet. Hougen is looking for
Preble to have a successful meet. “I really think that he is
going to have a good weekend,” said Hougen. “If he just has
an average meet he should do well.”
Junior
multi-event athlete Preble will compete in his second consecutive
national championship meet this weekend. After failing to finish the
meet due to injury last season, Preble will look to rebound with a
strong showing in 2009.
Preble enters
the NCAA championships ranked fifth on the 2009 NCAA Division II indoor
performance list. The junior scored a school-record 5,012 points in the
heptathlon at the NSIC multi-event championships Feb. 15-16. Preble
went on to defend his conference championship that weekend outscoring
his closest opponent by 460 points. Preble, and nine other men’s
track and field athletes from the NSIC will represent the conference at
the championships.
An opening ceremony was held on Tuesday, Preble and Buerkle represented
the green and white in a large number of athletes in the ceremony. They
continue to gear-up for the competition while getting practice sessions
in. Preble will compete in the Heptathlon starting with the 60-meter
run, long jump, shot put, and high jump on Friday. The junior will pick
up competition on Saturday competing in the 60-meter hurdles, pole
vault, and 1,000-meter run.
Buerkle
will open the national meet in the preliminaries for the 400-meter
dash, which is set for 4:30 p.m. start on Friday. The finals for the
400-meter dash will be run at 3:50 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Preble and Buerkle have been invited to participate in the YES Clinic
on the campus of Texas Southern University in Houston, Tex. The two
track and field athletes will have the opportunity to provide sports
skills instruction to area youth ages 10-16. The goal of the clinic is
for the athletes to pass on conditioning tips to help them improve
their athletic performance, while passing along life skills and
sportsmanship.
