Pioneer women take first and men second at Don Frail Invitational
Three school records fall for the Lady Pioneers at the home meet

April 5, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College track & field program hosted nearly a dozen teams for the Don Frail Invitational on Saturday (April 5) afternoon at Don Drumm Stadium. The Pioneer women (146 points) won the event by two points over Bridgewater (Va.). The Eagles, however, returned the favor by topping the Pioneers in the men's competition, 130-116.

Marietta's women set three school records on Saturday. Junior Tiffany Kovacevich (Strongsville) set a new record in the Shot Put (12.16m/39-10.75), sophomore Randi Robertson (Avon Lake) set a new record in winning the 5,000m Run (18:26.69) and freshman Tara Leach (West Lafayette) set a new record in the 200m Dash (27.10 seconds). Kovacevich, who placed third in the Shot Put, also placed second in the Hammer Throw with a mark of 41.73m (136-11). Leach, who finished fifth in the 200m Dash, took second in the Long Jump after leaping 5.15m (136-11).

Jessi Larrison (Batavia) equaled Robertson's placement in the 800m Run; the two were Marietta's only first place finishers at the meet. Larrison ran a season's best time, crossing the line in 2:20.61. Sophomore Logan Wern (North Canton/Hoover) ran to a third place finish in the 1,500m Run, posting a personal record time of 5:08.55. Senior Mallory Sinoski (Fairpoint/St. Clairsville) took second in the 100m Hurdles, finishing in 16.65 seconds. Senior Sheena Spencer (Marietta/Parkersburg) also had a good day in the 400m Hurdles. She finished in 1:06.52, which earned her a second place finish.

The women's 4x100m Relay, which featured Leach, Sinoski, freshman Stephanie Hammond (Toledo/Central Catholic) and freshman Ericka Shafer (East Canton), ran a season's best time on Saturday, crossing the line in 51.86 seconds, and finished second. The women's 4x400m Relay, which included sophomore Brenda Puckett (Eaton/Preble Shawnee), Wern, sophomore Sarita Dhiraprasiddhi (Hilliard/Hilliard Darby) and Larrison, also took second, finishing in 4:15.30.

Three other women had top-three performances in field events. Dhiraprasiddhi placed third in the Triple Jump with a mark of 10.10m (33-01.75). Senior Breanne Kosar (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) took second in the High Jump, clearing 1.52m (4-11.75). Senior Rachelle Cole (Sherrodsville/Conotton Valley) finished second in the Javelin Throw, tossing a mark of 31.74m (104-02).

The Pioneer men posted six second place and three third places finishes to help them place second overall. Sophomore Corey Blattler (Barnesville) took second in the 1,500m Run with a personal record time of 4:22.52. Junior Jered Mitchem (Marietta/Warren Local) placed second in the 400m Run. He also ran a personal record 50.56 second race. Freshman Anthony Williams (Columbus/Bishop Hartley) placed third in the 200m Run, crossing the line in 23.04 seconds. Senior Harrison Potter (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) finished second in the 5,000m Run, running a time of 16:21.79.

The men's 4x400m Relay, which featured Mitchem, freshman Marcus Freeman (East Cleveland/Shaw), sophomore Josh Mickle (Madison) and Williams, ran a season's best time of 3:31.35 and placed third.

Freshman Justin Floyd (Redford, Mich./Redford Union) placed second in the High Jump with a mark of 1.88m (6-02.00). He then tried the Triple Jump for the first time and took third with a leap of 12.54m (41-01.75). Freshman Seth Beckner (Red House, W.Va./Buffalo) finished runner-up in the Pole Vault after successfully clearing 4.40m (14-05.25), which was a season's best. Junior Derek Carpenter (Belpre) also finished second in the Hammer Throw with a toss of 46.75m (153-04).

Marietta is back in action on Tuesday (April 8) afternoon when it plays host to rival Muskingum College for their annual Dual Meet. Action begins at Don Drumm Stadium with the field events at 6 p.m. and will wrap up with the 4x100m Relays around 9 p.m.

Sophomore Randi Robertson set a school record while winning the 5,00m Run on Saturday

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