DULUTH, Minn. --  The Bemidji State University men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to Duluth, Minn. to compete the Lake Superior Challenge on Saturday. The Beavers were one of nine teams to compete in the meet hosted by the College of St. Scholastica. Bemidji State freshman thrower Brian Leonhardt (Fr., Blaine, Minn.) put forth his best effort of the season and was victorious in the shot put, while sprinter Kristi Buerkle (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) captured first place in the 400-meter dash.

Leonhardt's first-place throw of 45-07.00 feet not only marks his personal best, it also stands as the first event victory of his collegiate career. Senior jumper Nate Bahr (So., Clearbrook, Minn.) also had a strong performance for the Beavers. Bahr finished second in the triple jump stretching the tape to 40-05.00 feet. In addition, Bemidji State’s Mitch Drotts (Fr., Deer River, Minn.) vaulted himself just shy of a first place finish with a jump of 12-08.25 feet to finish third in the pole vault.

BSU’s sophomore sprinter Buerkle won the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.10 seconds. In the women’s 55-meter hurdles, Sara Dalton (So., St. Cloud, Minn.) finished third recording a time of 8.89 seconds, one-tenth of a second behind the second place finisher. Dalton also finished fourth in the 55-meter dash crossing the line in 7.71 seconds.

Bemidji State returns to the Gillett Recreation-Fitness Center next weekend to host the Bemidji State Twilight. The event is slated for a 4 p.m. start on Saturday afternoon. This will be BSU’s final tune-up before the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships which are scheduled for the Beavers' home track Feb. 27-28.