Marietta College track & field competes at Ohio Invitational in final tune up before OAC Championships
Carpenter breaks Hammer Throw record for third straight meet

May 5, 2007
ATHENS, Ohio — The Marietta College track & field program made the short trip to Athens Saturday (May 5) for the Ohio University Open. The meet, which was not scored, was the final tune up before next weekend's Ohio Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted by Baldwin-Wallace College.

For the third straight week, the highlight of the day on the men's side was sophomore Derek Carpenter's (Belpre) performance in the Hammer Throw. Carpenter bettered his school record in the event with a mark of 160-02 (48.83m), which placed third among Saturday's competition.

Freshman Chad Byers (New Matamoras) set a new personal best in the Discus Throw and placed second. Byers threw 148-09 (45.33m), which is the fourth-best mark in the OAC this spring.

Sophomore Brian Pallini (Belpre) set a personal record in the Javelin Throw, placing sixth with a throw of 163-05 (49.80m).

Freshman Cody Thomas (North Olmsted) ran a personal record in the 800m Run and finished second with a time of 2:01.00. Freshman Kent Reiber (Avon Lake) (2:04.68), junior Harrison Potter (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) (2:05.67) and freshman Gary Hochstein (Mt. Hope, W.Va.) (2:06.90) also had their best times of the season and took fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively in the 800m Run.

Two Lady Pioneers just missed school records at the meet. Senior Rachelle Cole (Sherrodsville/Conotton Valley) was four inches shy of the Javelin Throw record. She took third with a mark of 113-00 (34.45m). Freshman Sheena Spencer (Marietta) placed third in the 400m Hurdles, finishing with a time of 1:06.40, which is just 33/100 of a second off the school record time. Spencer's time moved her to third in the OAC.

Freshman Christi Tims (Olmsted Falls) ran a personal best in the 200m Dash and placed fourth with a time of 27.96 seconds.

The women's 4x100m Relay, which included juniors Joanna Ferrell (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) and Mallory Sinoski (Fairpoint/St. Clairsville) as well as freshmen Tims and Jen Valentic (Medina/Highland), combined to run a season's best time of 52.13 seconds and placed third.

Sophomore Jessi Larrison (Batavia) was one of the few Marietta athletes that competed at the Jesse Owens Classic, host by The Ohio State University. Larrison ran a season's best time in the 800m Run (2:19.36) and placed second.

Marietta is back in action Friday (May 11) when it travels to Berea for the OAC Championships. Stay tuned for a complete preview later in the week.

Sophomore Derek Carpenter set the school record in the Hammer Throw at the Ohio Open

Ohio Open Results

Jesse Owens Classic Results