Larrison breaks 1,500m record and Gardner establishes 3,000m Steeplechase record as Marietta College men and women both place third at OAC Gold Meet
Five OAC schools gathered at Don Drumm Stadium for competition

March 31, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — Head Coach Derek Stanley's Marietta College track & field program took another step in its building process Saturday (March 31) afternoon at Don Drumm Stadium, as both the men and women defeated rival John Carroll en route to third place finish at the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Gold Meet.

Baldwin-Wallace (163.5) won the women's title, while Mount Union (134), Marietta (116), John Carroll (104.50) and Muskingum (37) rounded out the finishers. Mount Union 293) captured the men's championship, while Muskingum (82), Marietta (70.50), John Carroll (40.50) and Baldwin-Wallace (37) finished second through fifth, respectively.

For Marietta, it was the first time that the men and women ever placed ahead of John Carroll in a track & field or cross country meet. It was also only the second time that the men defeated Baldwin-Wallace in either setting.

There were many noteworthy performances for the Pioneer women. Senior Brea Gardner (Sheridan/Somerset) qualified for All-Ohio with her fifth place finish in the 3,000m Steeplechase (12:50.87). Her performance established a school record in the event.

Sophomore Jessi Larrison (Batavia) broke the school record in the 1,500m run, running a time of 4:53.10. Larrison, who finished second in the race, was also the runner-up in the 800m run (2:22.19).

Junior Joanna Ferrell (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) won the 100m dash (13.54) and took third in the 200m dash, running a season's best time of 28.17 seconds. Junior Mallory Sinoski (Fairpoint/St. Clairsville) also ran a season's best in the 200m dash (28.26) and placed fourth.

Freshman Shannon McDonald (Lorain/Amherst Steele) ran a new personal record and qualified for All-Ohio and the OAC Championships in the 5,000m run. She finished second with a time of 19:21.83. Classmate Kaitlin Smith (Essex Junction, Vt.) also ran a personal record and qualified for All-Ohio, crossing the line in 19:49.07 and finishing fifth.

Sophomore Tiffany Kovacevich (Strongsville) won the shot put with a mark of 37-10.75 (11.55m), which was her best throw of the season.

Freshman Danielle Altenhof (East Rochester/United Local) had her best throw of the year in the discus (109.08/33.44m) and placed third.

Senior Rachel Forman (Heath) won the hammer throw with a toss of 137-04 (41.85m).

Sophomore Jered Mitchem (Marietta/Warren Local) took first place in the 800m run with a time of 1:56.78. His season's best highlighted the men's performances. Mitchem also took second in the high jump (6-02.25/1.89m).

Freshman Josh Mickle (Madison) set a new personal record and qualified for both All-Ohio and the OAC Championships with his fourth place finish in the 1,500m run (4:05.96).

Junior John Hull (Scott Depot, W.Va./Winfield) also qualified for All-Ohio and set a new personal record in the 5,000m run (15:55.60). He took eighth.

Freshman Zach Gay (Elyria/Oberlin) improved his personal record and qualified for All-Ohio and the OAC Championships with his first place finish in the high jump (6-06.25/1.99m).

In addition, junior Dan DeZordo (Louisville/Marlington) added his name to the list of All-Ohio and OAC qualifiers when he placed fifth in the shot put with a throw of 45-02.50 (13.78m).

Marietta returns to action Friday (Apr. 6) when it hosts the Don Frail Invitational. Action gets underway at 3 p.m. [Meet schedule]

Sophomore Jessi Larrison broke the school record in the 1,500m dash Saturday

Results