Nov. 03, 2005

Best OAC Finish Ever for Pioneer Runners
Men take 8th, Women 9th

By Brea Gardner
gardnerb@marietta.edu

There is no doubt that the competition is ruthless for the sport of cross country in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Marietta is only one small force just beginning to try to give itself a voice in a field of true contenders. There proved to be no difference last Saturday, as the colors of the 10 OAC teams came together in quite an ensuing spectacle as they waged a merciless battle on the open course of Otterbein’s terrain in Westerville, Ohio for the official OAC Championship race. This is the race that all the training of the season boils down to, the final inning, and do or die for many runners as they all vie for the coveted crown of OAC champion. This time, however, there was a difference, for Marietta had finally made its voice heard and it wasn’t just a murmur but a resounding roar that they had finally arrived as a true contender.

The women took to the course first in fine fashion, as the weather was ripe for great cross country finishes. Senior standout Emily Klowdowski led the way for the women finishing in 36th place overall, which is the second highest placement by a female since the reinstatement of the program. Her time of 24:38 became the fastest 6K time recorded in school history.
Next to come in, was freshman Jessie Larrison who unquestionably ran the race of her young career as she improved her previous established 5K times by well over an astounding two minutes. She finished in 58th place with a time of 24:47. Holding on strong to finish third for the women was Brea Gardner (61st, 25:58).

In her last collegiate race ever, senior Lyndley Dmitsak did not disappoint as she ran the race of her season, bettering last year’s finish by 10 spots to earn 82nd place in 27:31. Wrapping it up was Janelle Rodes (96th, 31:10) who contributed a much needed fifth place score to allow the women to score as a team.

All five women did their job and PR’d (personal record) on the fast 6,000m course. Overall, they were able to improve their standing in the OAC with a 9th place team finish. Ohio Northern held on to win the ladies championship title with a score of 63 points. The women’s individual champion was Ellie Fernandez of John Carroll University with a time of 21:47.
The men’s team was up next in its chance to shine, and shine they did. Again five of Marietta’s runners PR’d, including the leader for the team, sophomore Harrison Potter. As was with Klowdowski, it was repeated with Potter for his 36th place finish became the best performance by any male since 2002 and his time of 27:15, the fastest one recorded at the championship meet.

John Hull was next in fighting long and hard for 59th place, nine places better than last year and a personal best time of 27:50, almost a full two minutes better. Coming in third for the men in his final championship race was senior Clark Spears (67th, 28:09).
Also finishing in the top five were Jered Mitchem, in his first ever collegiate 8K race who sprinted to get 81st place in 28:52 just outkicking fellow teammate Kyle Hummel (82nd, 28:52) who came as a pleasant surprise in having the race of his collegiate career, finishing over three minutes better than his previous best this year. Two more PR performances were turned in next from
Ben Williams (92nd, 29:13) and Joseph Wynes (102nd, 30:27).

Locking up the unprecedented effort were Andrew Wichie (103rd, 30:32), Lyle Sulfridge (109th, 31:38), and Isiah Johnson (115th, 32:10) also in his first ever collegiate 8K race.
The pioneer men valiantly earned 8th place as a team overall on its way to its best finish. Mount Union nabbed the men’s championship title away from host Otterbein finishing with five men in the top 18 for a score of 50 points. However, the domination of Otterbein’s Mike Sawicki was complete as he won the men’s individual title again with an outstanding time of 24:26.
Head coach Derek Stanley couldn’t have been more proud or pleased with both of his teams as he stated, “We had our goals set before the race and knew what we had to do. Although this race was just like any other with its positives and negatives, we definitely had mostly positives!” Indeed, the Pioneer runners gave their best appearance ever in the OAC since their young history began in 2002 and now they have paved the way for a another new history for the future program of cross country at Marietta College.

This completes most of the runners’ seasons, but a selected few will continue on and compete at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Championship hosted by Wilmington College at Voice of America Park on Saturday, November 12th. Good luck to those runners and congratulations to the whole cross country team on an amazing, historical season.