Two Bemidji State University track and field student-athletes have been given invitations to compete in the 2006 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships held May 25-27 at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kan. Sophomore Sheena Devine, a former North Branch standout, has qualified for the womenís shot put while sophomore Joe Remitz, also a former North Branch athlete, will take part in the menís shot put at the event.

ìJoe and Sheena are both high-quality athletes and have each experience a tremendous amount of success this year,î commented Bemidji State head track and field coach Craig Hougen. ìI think they both have a great opportunity to represent Bemidji State at the NCAA Championships, finish in the top eight and come back as All-Americans.î

Devine got out of the gates quickly this spring provisionally qualifying for the NCAA meet with a throw of 45-07 in the first meet of the outdoor season. Since that time she has captured first place in four of five meets, each time surpassing the NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark of 43-06.

However, the sophomore saved her best for last recording the fourth longest shot put distance in the country this season with a 48-04 first place throw at last weekís Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships in Wayne, Neb. The throw also stands as the new BSU and NSIC womenís outdoor shot put standard.

The outdoor invitation is the first of its kind for Devine but she competed on the national level in March when she participated in the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships.

Remitz enters the NCAA Division II Championships after taking home first place in five of six events this spring. His only non-first place finish came at the Drake Relays where he competed against a mixture of the best NCAA Division I and II athletes. In that meet he took 11th with a throw of 54-10. The 2006 NSIC Outdoor Shot Put Champion currently stands in ninth on the NCAA performance list after measuring a school-record throw of 55-07 April 22 at the Bison Open in Fargo, N.D.

Remitz is already an All-American after finishing six in the shot put at the 2006 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in Boston, Mass March, 10-11. This is is first trip to the national outdoor championships.

A complete list of the participating athletes can be viewed at www.flashresults.com/flashwest.