Robertson places third overall to lead Marietta College at 2008 OAC Cross Country Championships
Pioneer women finish fifth and men take seventh in race hosted by Marietta College

Nov. 1, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — On Saturday (Nov. 1) afternoon, the Broughton Nature and Wildlife Education Area was the site of the 2008 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Cross Country Championships. Ohio Northern University captured both the men's title and the women's crown at the championships, which were hosted by Marietta College.

The Polar Bear men won their second straight league championship by placing four runners in the top 10 to finish with 39 points. Mount Union College collected 48 points to place second, while Heidelberg College had 54 points and took third place. Ohio Northern's women captured their third OAC title in the last four years by having its top three runners all finish in the top 10 and totaling 57 points as a team. Baldwin-Wallace College narrowly edged Otterbein College for second place; just two points separated the schools. The Yellow Jackets finished with 64 points, while the Cardinals had 66 points.

Both Marietta teams improved one spot from last year's OAC Championships. The Pioneer women climbed to fifth place with 121 points, while the men accumulated 210 points and finished seventh.

Junior Randi Robertson (Avon Lake) earned All-OAC honors for the second straight season, moving up from second team to first team in 2008. Robertson, who placed third overall, covered the six-kilometer course in 23:26.59. She is the second highest-finishing runner at the OAC Championships in school history. Pioneer freshman Jen Emmert (Martinsburg, W.Va.) also earned All-OAC honors, landing on the second team after taking 15th place. Emmert, the second fastest freshman in the meet, finished in 24:08.22.

Senior Jessi Larrison (Batavia) was the third Marietta women to cross the line. She finished in 36th place with a time of 25:05.21. Freshman Reba Leonard (Brookville) was right behind her in 39th place, running the course in 25:10.59. Sophomore Kaity Smith (Essex Junction, Vt.) rounded out the Pioneers' top five with a 41st place finish. Smith finished in 25:13.24.

"Overall I thought the women had a solid day," Head Coach Derek Stanley said. "We have the ability to run better, but everyone left it out there. That's all I can ask, and it got us one spot better than last year."

Junior Josh Mickle (Madison) led Marietta's men in the eight-kilometer race. Mickle, the top-placing Marietta men's athlete at the OAC Championships since the sport was reinstated in 2002, finished in 27:36.77 and placed 27th overall. Junior Cody Thomas (North Olmsted) followed in 44th place after crossing the line in 28:15.58. Freshman Terrance Wallace (Westerville) took 50th place, finishing the race in 28:28.42. Senior Joseph Wynes (East Aurora, N.Y.) was the fourth Pioneer to finish. Wynes ran 28:54.40 and placed 68th. Sophomore Max Kenngott (Akron/St. Vincent-St. Mary) concluded Marietta's top five with a 78th place finish. He crossed the line in 29:09.64.

"It was a good effort from our men today," Staney said. "I am happy to finish one spot higher in the standings against some great competition this year."

Marietta will close out the season on Saturday (Nov. 15) morning when the Pioneers compete at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, which is being hosted by Otterbein College.

Men's Standings:

1. Ohio Northern, 39; 2. Mount Union, 48; 3. Heidelberg, 54; 4. Otterbein, 109; 5. Baldwin-Wallace, 145; 6. Wilmington, 160; 7. Marietta, 210; 8. John Carroll, 218; 9. Capital, 255; 10. Muskingum, 306.

Women's Standings:

1. Ohio Northern, 56; 2. Baldwin-Wallace, 64; 3. Otterbein, 66; 4. John Carroll, 107; 5. Marietta, 121; 6. Wilmington, 155; 7. Mount Union, 190; 8. Capital, 220; 9. Heidelberg, 238; 10. Muskingum, 291.