MC cross country teams run strategy, place ninth

Sept. 3, 2005
HUNTING VALLEY, Ohio — Average times run in early September are common in the sport of cross country, as the temperature averages are higher, the training is still in the initial phases, and competitors are getting used to running races again. The Marietta College cross country teams took these factors into account Saturday (Sept. 3) at the Bill Sudeck Invitational hosted by Case Western University at the Squire Valleevue Farm. 

"Because this is our first competition of the year with the temperature near 80 degrees I wanted to send my teams out a bit slow and let them get comfortable in a pace before working to improve position in the race," said Derek Stanley, head coach of both the men and women’s teams. "It doesn’t look that good in the results but the mile splits were all I cared about today."

The men began the day with the 8,000m race. Coach’s goal to bring a bulk of the MC runners through three miles at 18:00 was achieved by five of the nine team runners.  Clark Spears, John Hull, Harrison Potter and Ben Williams all came through at 17:57 with Joseph Wynes not far behind in 18:14.  Spears ended up first for the team with 38th place, completing the last two miles in 11:06 for a total time of 29:03.  Second in for the Pioneers was Hull (42nd, 29:11), then Potter (45th, 29:20) in a nice pack.  Next was Williams (52nd, 29:56) and rounding out the top 5 was Andrew Wichie with a strong last two miles (71st, 30:55).  Also finishing for MC was Wynes (77th, 31:37), Alex Lugosch (93rd, 32:34), Lyle Sulfridge (106th, 34:11), and Kyle Hummel (113th, 35:49).

The women’s race was next for the Pioneers as the temperature steadied.  The women’s goal was to "go out slow till the 1 and start passing people." The strategy was executed perfectly by the #1 and #2 runners for MC.  Both Lydia Christopher and Emily Klodowski came through the mile mark at 7:08, well off their normal first mile. They were passed by no one the rest of the race as they moved up in the race. By the end, Christopher had taken a small lead and held on to finish the race in 41st place, running 21:25. Klodowski was on her heels earning 43rd place in 21:31. Rounding out the scoring for the women were Brea Gardner (85th, 23:26), Lyndley Dmitsak (108th, 25:17), and Janelle Rodes (118th, 28:23).

The next meet for the MC cross country teams will be their only home meet of the year on Saturday (Sept. 17) with races beginning at 11 a.m. All of the action can be seen at Broughton's Nature and Wildlife Education Area.