BEMIDJI, Minn. (Gillett Recreation-Fitness Center) -- The Gillett Recreation-Fitness Center was buzzing with anticipation for the final day of the 2011 NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships. Bemidji State sprinter Kristi Buerkle (Sr., Stacy, Minn.) defended her 400-meter dash title, while Raphael Gelo (So., Kabetogama, Minn.) captivated the crowd with his highflying top finish in the pole vault.

The Bemidji State women’s indoor track and field team finished eighth in the final team standings earning 30 points, while the men finished in 10th place with 23 points.

Gelo started the day off in grand fashion for the Beavers, capturing the NSIC pole vault title by clearing a personal-best 16-00.75. The sophomore is the first BSU men’s indoor pole vault champion since 1999, when John Pietila took the title clearing 16-00.00. Gelo’s mark ties him for seventh in the nation and provisionally qualifies him for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Teammate Tandy Juell (So., Redwood Falls, Minn.) finished fourth in the pole vault (14-07.25) picking up five team points. For the Championships Juell accounted for 12 of the 23 total team points for the men. He tallied six points for his third-place finish two weeks ago in the heptathlon, as well as helping gain a point with the eighth-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay.

Buerkle took the NSIC 400-meter dash crown for the second consecutive year, posting a time of 55.22 - just .17 off her NSIC record setting pace in last year’s championship victory. In the 200-meter dash finals, Buerkle broke her own school record en-route to finishing in second-place. Buerkle crossed the finish line in 24.94, missing out on first-place by a step (.05) in the photo finish.

The Stacy, Minn. native turned in her best times of the year in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes. Buerkle automatically qualified for the Division II Championships in 400-meter dash, ranking second in the country. In addition, the senior standout provisionally qualified in the 200-meter dash, posting the 11th fastest time in the nation.

Sophomore Michelle Ohman (So., Prior Lake, Minn.) picked up six points for the BSU women’s team, placing third in the 600-meter run with a mark of 1:37.89-her fastest time this year.

Ohman and Buerkle teamed up with Mackenzie Haupert (Fr., Andover, Minn.) and Kirsten Maras (Jr., Ramsey, Minn.) to take fourth in the 4x400-meter relay (4:01.65).

Minnesota State Moorhead held on to win the men’s team title with 166.5 total points, edging second-place Augustana College by 33 points and third-place Minnesota State University, Mankato by 47.

On the women’s side, University of Mary over took Augustana College on day two to win the women’s team title with 166.5 points. Augie finished in second with 146.5 points, with Winona State finishing third with 41.5.


2011 NSIC Individual Award Winners:
2011 NSIC Women’s Co-High Point - Melissa Walker - Mary (N.D.); Runa Falch - Augustana
2011 NSIC Men’s High Point - Derek Bredy - MSU Moorhead
2011 NSIC Men’s Coach of the Year – Keith Barnier - MSU Moorhead
2011 NSIC Male Newcomer of the Year - Paul Yak - Augustana
2011 NSIC Male Track of the Year - Derek Bredy - MSU Moorhead
2011 NSIC Male Field of the Year - Anthony Enyi - MSU Moorhead
2011 NSIC Women’s Coach of the Year - Mike Thorson - Mary (N.D.)
2011 NSIC Female Newcomer of the Year – Nicole Brungardt - Wayne State
2011 NSIC Female Track of the Year - Runa Falch - Augustana
2011 NSIC Female Field of the Year - Melissa Walker - Mary (N.D.)

Men's Final Standings
Rank	Team	Points
1	MSU Moorhead	161.5
2	Augustana	132.5
3	Minnesota State	114.5
4	Wayne State	77
5	Northern State	60
6	U-Mary	59.5
7	Concordia-St. Paul	46
8	St. Cloud State	35
9	Minnesota Duluth	30
10	Bemidji State	23

 

Women's Final Standings
Rank	Team	Points
1	U-Mary	166.5
2	Augustana	146.5
3	Winona State	99.5
4	Wayne State	70
5	Minnesota State	68
6	Minnesota Duluth	66
7	St. Cloud State	44
8	Bemidji State	30
9	MSU Moorhead	27.5
10	Northern State	21
11	Concordia-St. Paul	2

 --bsu--