Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney track & field teams finished second (women) and third (men) at the 2010 RMAC Indoor Championships this weekend in Golden, Colo.

The-two event was hosted by Colorado School of Mines. Not surprisingly, Adams State rolled to the team titles, scoring 189 points on the men's side and 187.50 in the women's race. This is the Grizzlies ninth straight women's indoor title and the sixth in the last seven years for the men.

The Loper women scored a strong 134.50 points -- 4th most in program history -- with the men coming in at 116. UNK had 54 point advantage over 3rd place New Mexico Highlands on the women's side with Chadron State (121) edging UNK for runner up honors.

On Friday, senior throwers Rich Mourer and Tracie Chanady each won the weight throw. Joining them atop the awards stand on Saturday were senior thrower Sam Murphy (shot put), sophomore sprinter Alex Paul (400 meters) and sophomore Bryson Mahlberg (heptathlon).

UNK had a slew of runner up finishes today in senior throwers Dane Tobey and Kiley Peterson ( both shot put),  freshman Kristi Bauer (high jump) and both 4 x 400 relay teams. 

After the meet, Tobey (Waco) was the named the RMAC's nominee for Male Regional Athlete of the Year.
The 4-time All-American could've potentially thrown well over 60 feet today but a basketball hoop, which folded up in the ceiling, literally blocked the shot, forcing him to re-throw several times.

Tobey's best counted toss was 58-4.50; Chadron State's Cody Hunt won with a throw of 58-6.

In his first RMAC meet, Mahlberg scored 4,587 points to edge UCCS' Brian Hopkins (4,542) for the heptathlon gold medal. The Eldwood native won at 60 meters and the 60 hurdles while being third in four other events.

Mahlberg becomes UNK's first-ever RMAC heptathlon champion.

Paul (Gothenburg) ran a 49.36 to claim the 400 title and was fourth at 200 meters (23.08) as well. Also on the track, four underclassmen ran a 3:26.60 to finish second to UCCS (3:25.80) in the 4 x 400.

Finally for the Loper men, Kearney sophomore Marty Molina was third in the triple jump (47-2.50) as was Chadron sophomore Allen Osborn in the 60 hurdles (8.45).

Murphy (Franklin) had a career-best, and arena best, throw of 48-10.75 to win the shot. The toss is also the third best in school history. Peterson came in second (45-7.25) with Wynot junior Brittany Weinandt third (44-1.25) and Waco freshman Jackie Ziemke fourth (43-10.75).

Both Weinandt and Ziemke provisionally qualify with Peterson also improving her standing on the national list.

Bauer (5-5) and fellow freshman Ariel Krolikowski (5-3) went 2-3 in the high jump with Imperial sophomore Erica Pirog third at 400 meters (59.99).

Pirog also was the anchor for the 4 x 400 relay team that ran a 4:02.64 to trail only Adams (3:59.09).

The list of qualifiers for the NCAA Championships will be released early next week.