Marietta College women take seventh and men eighth at OAC Indoor Championship
Six more Pioneers earn All-OAC honors in Westerville

March 8, 2008
WESTERVILLE, Ohio — The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Indoor Track & Field Indoor Championship wrapped up Saturday (March 8) evening with Marietta College’s women taking seventh and the men placing eighth in the 10-team competition, which featured all of the league’s schools. The Pioneers, who had one All-OAC performer on Friday, added six more All-Conference award winners and set seven school records on the final day of competition on the campus of Otterbein College.

Baldwin-Wallace College collected 137 points to narrowly win the women’s title over host Otterbein College, which had 134 points. Marietta finished with 41 points and placed seventh. Ohio Northern University won the men’s crown after compiling 187 points. Heidelberg College took second with 119 points, while Mount Union College was third with 114 points. Marietta’s men finished with 30 points and placed eighth.

Junior Brian Pallini (Medina) wrapped up his stellar indoor season with an individual title in the Weight Throw. Pallini, who set a school record with a mark of 15.69m (51-05.75), out threw his nearest competitor, classmate Derek Carpenter (Belpre), by over six feet. Carpenter’s mark was 13.72m (45-05.75). Both earned All-OAC honors for their efforts in the exhibition event. Pallini also set a school record en route to finishing fourth in the Shot Put, throwing 14.85m (48-08.75).

Junior Jared Mitchem (Marietta/Warren Local) also earned All-OAC honors after placing runner-up in the 800m Run. Mitchem crossed the line in 1:58.75, just .57 seconds behind the ONU’s James O’Brien, who won the individual title. Mitchem added to his day with a fourth place finish in the High Jump, clearing 1.83m (6-00.00).

Another noteworthy performance on the men’s side came from freshman Seth Beckner (Red House, W.Va./Buffalo), who took fourth in the Pole Vault. Beckner did so by setting a school record with a mark of 4.50m (14-09.00). In addition, Matt Hickman (St. Marys, W.Va.) took sixth in the 55m Dash, crossing the line in 6.71 seconds. Sophomore Josh Mickle (Madison) also finished in the top eight, taking seventh in the Mile Run after running a 4:29.63. Finally, senior Harrison Potter (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) set a personal record in the 1,000m Run (2:41.12) and placed 10th.

Marietta’s women had three All-OAC award winners on Saturday. Junior Tiffany Kovacevich (Strongsville) placed runner-up in the Weight Throw, finishing with a school record mark of 13.87m (45-06.25). She also took eighth in the Shot Put, throwing 11.40m (37-05.00). Senior Sheena Spencer (Marietta) ran to a third place finish in the 400m Dash, crossing the line in 1:00.66. In addition, junior Jessi Larrison (Batavia) placed third in the 800m Run, finishing in 2:23.58.

Sophomore Randi Robertson (Avon Lake), who earned All-OAC on Friday after finishing second in the 3,000m Run, set a school record in the 1,000m Run on Saturday. Robertson crossed the line in 3:11.06 and placed fourth.

The 4x200m Relay team, which featured freshman Tara Leach (West Lafayette), senior Mallory Sinoski (Fairpoint/St. Clairsville), Larrison and Spencer, also set a school record at the competition. They completed their race in 1:50.99 and placed sixth.

Marietta now turns its attention to the outdoor season. The Pioneers will open at the Coastal Carolina Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C., which takes place March 14-15.

Junior Brian Pallini won the Weight Throw at the OAC Championship

OAC Championship Site

Men's Results

Women's Results