2006-07 Marietta College track & field outlook
Pioneers continue to build program

Dec. 6, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — Expectation are rising for Head Coach Derek Stanley and the 2007 Marietta College track & field team, as they continue to develop into an Ohio Athletic Conference contender. Since 2003 when the program was reinstated, the Pioneers have continuously grown and this year, the team has over 60 athletes on the roster.

The Marietta women, who took ninth place at the OAC Indoor Championships (11 points) and seventh place in the OAC Outdoor Championships (44.5 points), returns the athletes who scored all but one point at the Conference outdoor meet, which was hosted at Don Drumm Stadium. In 2005-06, 22 women’s records—14 indoor and eight outdoor—fell, providing further proof that the program was reaching new heights.

Leading that charge is sophomore All-OAC honoree Jessi Larrison (Batavia). Larrison, voted the team’s Most Valuable Track Athlete last year, took third place in the indoor 500m run and captured the outdoor 800m run title at the OAC Championships. She became just the fifth Pioneer woman ever to win an individual event.

The Pioneers also return the 2006 Most Valuable Field Athlete in sophomore thrower Tiffany Kovacevich (Strongsville). Kovacevich earned All-OAC after placing third in the outdoor shot put. Seniors Rachel Forman (Heath), who won the outdoor hammer throw exhibition, Fizzy Ramsey (Danville, Ky./Boyle), who took fourth in the outdoor pole vault and Rachelle Cole (Sherrodsville/Conotton Valley), who placed fifth in the outdoor javelin, as well as junior Breanne Kosar (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park), who finished fourth in the outdoor high jump at the OAC Championships, will also help anchor the women’s team.

Stanley is also looking for newcomers Danielle Altenhof (East Rochester/United Local) (throws), Sarita Dhiraprasiddhi (Hilliard/Darby) (sprints), Sidra Dhiraprasiddhi (Hilliard/Darby) (sprints), Shannon McDonald (Lorain/Amherst Steele) (distance) and Kaity Smith (Essex Junction, Vt.) (distance) to provide an immediate impact this season.

The Pioneer men are also looking to continue their momentum after taking tenth (13.5 points) at the OAC Indoor Championships and eighth (44 points) at the OAC Outdoor Championships. Marietta returns athletes who accounted for 31 of the 44 points at the outdoor meet and return both of their Athletes of the Year.

Sophomore Jered Mitchem (Marietta/Warren Local) was tabbed the team’s Most Valuable Track Athlete after leading the runners in scoring last year. Mitchem, who took eighth place in the indoor 800m run, helped Marietta place eighth in the indoor distance medley relay and take sixth in the outdoor 4x400m relay at the OAC Championships.

Sophomore Seth Townsend (Bellville, W.Va./Parkersburg South) was voted the team’s Most Valuable Field Athlete. He took fourth in the outdoor high jump, fifth in the indoor high jump and indoor and outdoor triple jump and ninth in the indoor long jump at the OAC Championships.

In addition, a pair of All-OAC performers returns for the Pioneer men. Sophomore Mike Pankowski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) took third in the outdoor javelin and junior Dan DeZordo (Louisville/Marlington), who earlier in the season provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the discus, took second in the outdoor discus, sixth in the indoor shot put and seventh in the outdoor shot put at the OAC Championships. The distance team will once again be paced by junior Harrison Potter (Rochester, N.Y./Gate Chili), who placed seventh in the outdoor 3,000m steeplechase at the Conference Championships.

The Pioneers expect freshmen Jeremiah Alton (Parkersburg, W.Va./South) (sprints), Chad Byers (New Matamoras/River) (throws), Dan Cawley (Marietta) (jumps), Zach Gay (Elyria/Oberlin) (sprints), Josh Mickle (Madison) (distance), Mike Siringer (Willowick/Willoughby South) (distance) and Cody Thomas (North Olmsted) (distance) to make early contributions this year.

Marietta begins their season Saturday (Dec. 9) when it hosts a First Glimpse meet. Alderson-Broaddus (W.Va.), Capital, Charleston (W.Va.), Concord (W.Va.), Ohio Wesleyan, Thiel (Pa.), Westminster (Pa.) and Wilmington are expected to attend. Doors of the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center open at 10 a.m. and competition begins at 12 p.m. The meet is expected to end around 5 p.m.

Sophomore Tiffany Kovacevich and the Pioneers open their indoor season Saturday at home