2005 Cross Country Preview

Aug. 29, 2005
MARIETTA, Ohio — In only their fourth season since returning to the Varsity sports lineup at Marietta College, the Pioneer cross country teams have been out to prove themselves in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Despite a 2004 season that saw the men claim ninth place, while the women took 10th in the OAC, second-year head coach Derek Stanley is looking forward to an improved corps of upperclassmen to move the Pioneers up the conference ladder in 2005.

"When my athletes come back from summer break, if individually they have done what was needed to improve, I can be confident that as a team we will be better," said Stanley. "I think we have a good group of athletes this season and I’m very happy with the amount of training they did over the summer. Because of this, we will see better average times and placings at meets."

A returning group of nine athletes will be accompanied by four newcomers to round out the 2005 men’s cross country squad. Leading the pack is senior Clark Spears, who was the only Pioneer runner to meet Stanley’s criteria to compete at the regional meet in 2004. Spears finished the race in a personal-best time of 26:27 to claim 69th place overall. Stanley is also looking forward to freshman prospect Joe Wynes to have a good rookie campaign and provide the team with some added depth.

"This should be a good season for the men,” commented Stanley. “Clark is our top returner and I look for him to be one of the top runners in the conference, as well. We are improving as a team, and I hope to see every one of them qualifying for the regional meet in November."  

The women welcome back five letterwinners from 2004. Two individuals—senior Emily Klodowski and junior Lydia Christopher—will be looked upon to lead the Pioneer charge in 2005. Christopher paced the Lady Pioneers last season in every meet, including a 47th place showing at the conference championships. Although an ankle sprain kept Klodowski from running at the All-Ohio Championships, she fought back by the end of the season and was able to finish second for Marietta at the OAC Championships claiming 54th place.

"The women are definitely better than last season," said Stanley. "They have improved over the summer and I expect to see good things from them this season."

Both the men and women will commence the 2005 season with the Bill Sudeck Invitational in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 11:00 a.m. In hope that Mother Nature will cooperate this year, Marietta will host the Carl Broughton Invitational Saturday, Sept. 17 before making a trip to Canada for the Western International Invitational (Sept. 24). All-Ohio Championships (Oct. 7) and 2005 Bobcat Classic (Oct. 15) will be all the preparation the Pioneers need before facing their league opponents at the OAC Championships, hosted by Otterbein (Oct. 29). The season concludes with the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships in Mason, Ohio on Saturday, Nov. 12.