Both men and women tabbed fourth in RMAC Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll; Four athletes named Preseason All-RMAC

GOLDEN, Colo. -- The Colorado School of Mines men's and women's outdoor track & field teams were both picked to finish fourth in the 2009 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll. Kiera Benson, Mark Husted, Mack McLain and Melanie Peddle all earned Preseason All-RMAC honors.

Benson, a sophomore from Needville, Texas (Needville High School), earned First Team All-RMAC honors at the 2008 RMAC Indoor Championships in the 55 m establishing a new CSM indoor school record (7.14). Benson also earned Second Team honors in the 200 m and Third Team honors in the triple jump. Benson qualified and competed in the 60 m at the 2009 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships. During the 2008 outdoor track & field season, Benson earned First Team All-RMAC honors in the 100 m and Second Team All-RMAC recognition in the 200 m at the RMAC Outdoor Championships.

Husted, a senior from Westminster, Colo. (Northglenn High School), was a member of the distance medley relay that won the national title at the 2009 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships. Husted earned All-American honors as a member of the distance medley relay as well as in the 800 m. At the 2009 RMAC Indoor Championships, Husted earned First Team All-RMAC honors in the 400 m and 4X400 m relay. Husted also earned Second Team recognition in the 800 m and as a member of the distance medley relay. During the 2008 outdoor track & field season, Husted earned All-American honors in the 800 m (1:51.28) at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. Husted earned First Team All-RMAC honors in the 4X400 relay and Second Team accolades in the 800 m. For his efforts in the classroom, Husted was named First Team Academic All-District VII (College Division) by ESPN The Magazine.

McLain, a redshirt freshman from Edmond, Okla (Bishop McGuiness High School), was a member of the 2008 men's cross country squad that finished ninth at the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships. McLain finished 64th overall at Nationals and posted a 49th-place finish at the Regional Championships. During the 2009 indoor track & field season, McLain was named the RMAC Men's Freshman of the Year. McLain broke the RMAC record in the mile at the 2009 RMAC Indoor Championships and earned First Team All-RMAC honors. McLain also earned Second Team accolades as a member of the distance medley relay. McLain anchored the distance medley relay that won the national title at the 2009 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships. McLain earned All-American honors in the distance medley relay as well as in the mile run.

Peddle, a senior from Greeley, Colo. (Greeley West High School), earned All-American honors in the mile run at the 2009 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships. The RMAC Women's Track Athlete of the Year, Peddle earned First Team All-RMAC recognition in the mile run and the 800 m at the 2009 RMAC Indoor Championships and Third Team honors as a member of the distance medley relay.

For her efforts in the classroom during the 2008 cross country season, Peddle earned Second Team Academic All-RMAC honors and was named to the USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country All-Academic Team. Peddle earned Third Team All-RMAC honors during the cross country season with a 15th-place finish at the 2008 RMAC Cross Country Championships.

The CSM track & field squads will open the 2009 outdoor track & field season at the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves Invitational on Saturday, Mar. 28th.

-- OREDIGGERS --