Pioneers take fourth at 2006 Carl Broughton Invitational
Wooster’s Katie Wieferich sets course record in women’s 5k

Sept. 16, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College cross country team hosted the Carl Broughton Invitational, on the Broughton Nature Preserve, Saturday (Sept. 16) morning. The event, now in its fifth year of existence, featured eight teams, representing Ohio and West Virginia.

For the second straight year, Ohio Wesleyan swept the event. The Battling Bishop men (50 points) held off Alderson-Broaddus (W.Va.) (52 points) for the title, while Wooster (62 points), Marietta (85 points) and Muskingum (100 points) rounded out the top five.

Ohio Wesleyan’s women (26 points) eased it way to a victory, while Wooster (58 points), Alderson-Broaddus (74 points), Marietta (78 points) and Muskingum (143 points) were the top five finishers.

Wooster’s Rudy Gilman took the individual title on the men’s side, finishing the difficult course in 28:17.00. Jed Perko (28:36.00)and Colin Murphy (28:41.00), both from Alderson-Broaddus, placed second and third, respectively.

Marietta’s men were paced by junior Harrison Potter (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili), who finished eighth with a time of 29:01.00. Junior John Hull (29:20.00) took 11th, senior Andrew Wichie (Brunswick) (29:52.00) came in 18th, freshman Mike Siringer (Willowick/Willoughby South)(30:25.00) placed 23rd and freshman Kent Reiber (Avon Lake) (30:28.00) rounded out the scoring for the Pioneers with a 25th-place finish.

“The men looked rough,” said head coach Derek Stanley. “I don’t feel the performance was indicative of the level our team is at right now and we will look hard to see what that happened.”

Wooster also won the women’s individual title, when KatieWieferich set a new course record with a time of 18:34.00. She surpassed the previous record by over a minute and half. Ohio Wesleyan’s Sarah Shinn (20:30.00) and Claire Everhart (20:38.00) finished second and third, respectively.

The Pioneer women were led by freshman Shannon McDonald (Lorain/Amherst Steele) (20:49.00), who placed seventh. Sophomore Jessi Larrison (Batavia) (20:53.00) took eighth, freshman Kaity Smith (Essex Junction, Vt.)(21:40.00) finished 15th, senior Brea Gardner (Somerset/Sheridan) (22:29.00) came in 22nd and freshman Stephanie Williams (Marietta/Warren Local) (23:08.00) closed out Marietta’s scorers with a 32nd place finish.

“The women ran exactly how I needed them to run, we just have to find the will to finish the race,” Stanley said.

“I told both teams we could be anywhere from first to fourth today,” said Stanley. “Our four place finishes mean we had a good race, not a great one. I was a bit surprised by the times. The course was in pretty good shape after all the rain, but when the runners were applying energy to the ground it wasn’t coming back.”

Marietta will return to action Saturday (Sept. 23), when it competes at the Spiked Shoe Invitation in State College, Pa.