Marietta men and women place fourth at OAC Black Meet
DeZordo provisionally qualifies for NCAA Championships

Apr. 1, 2006
WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Half of the Ohio Athletic Conference track & field teams joined Marietta College at Otterbein for the OAC Black Meet Saturday (Apr. 1) afternoon. For Marietta, it was the first time that it competed head-to-head with many of the Conference schools this outdoor season. Both the Pioneer men (82 points) and the Pioneer women (65 points) finished in fourth place at the meet, which had 18 scored events in each gender.

Two men — senior Clark Spears in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and sophomore Dan DeZordo in the discus — and one women —freshman Melissa Schulte in the triple jump —had first place finishes Saturday afternoon. Spears ran the steeplechase in 10:10.22, DeZordo threw 159-00 (48.47m) in the discus and Schulte leaped personal record 10.63 meters in the triple jump.

DeZordo's performance in the discus provisionally qualified him for the 2006 NCAA Division III National Championships.

Schulte, was the only top-three finisher for the women, followed up her win in the triple jump by taking second in the high jump (1.53m) and in the long jump (4.89m).

Other top-three finisher on the men's side included Tim Roberts (2nd/1:01.07) in the 400 meter hurdles, DeZordo (14.27m) and Kevin Cox (3rd/13.60m) in the shot put, Jason Cocca (3rd/39.81m) in the discus and Michael Pankowski (50.82m) in the javelin. In addition, the men's 4x400m relay team, which included Roberts, Jeff Sherman, Jered Mitchem and Cocca took third (3:34.80).

"Our field events carried the load of our team today," Head Coach Derek Stanley said. "The jumpers and throwers really peformed well today. Congratulations to DeZordo for qualifying and to Schulte who had a big day for the women's team." 

Marietta also had a few of its athletes compete at the Ohio University Invitational on Friday (Mar. 31). John Hull (34:38.60) and Andrew Wichie (35:48.70) took fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 10,000 meter run and Raj Sharan (32.90m) placed 12th in the hammer throw. For Hull, he qualified for the OAC Championships, while Wichie set a new personal record in the event.

Marietta will return to action this Saturday (Apr. 8) at Mount Union for the Mt. Union College Open. Field events begin at 11 a.m. with running starting at 11:45 a.m. Its Don Frail Invitational, slated to be held Saturday at Don Drumm Stadium, has been cancelled.

Clark Spears won the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the OAC Black Meet Saturday

OAC Black Meet Men's Results

OAC Black Meet Women's Results

Ohio Invitational Results