MARIETTA, Ohio — With senior-filled rosters and coming off its most successful year in recent history, the Marietta College cross country program is anxious to begin the 2009 season.

Under the direction of seventh-year Head Coach Derek Stanley, the Pioneers return 11-of-14 men, including six seniors, and 9-of-14 women, including five seniors, from teams that finished seventh and fifth, respectively, at the 2008 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championship, which was hosted in Marietta, Ohio.

“I am looking for this to be our most successful season since I've been here and maybe the strongest we've ever had,” Stanley said. “We have a strong contingent of seniors who have the experience and confidence to lead these teams into a more competitive realm.”

Marietta's women feature a pair of All-OAC returnees—senior Randi Robertson (Avon Lake, Avon Lake) and sophomore Jennifer Emmert (Martinsburg, W.Va., Martinsburg ). Robertson, the team's Most Valuable Runner, finished third at the OAC Championship a year ago, which was the second highest placement by a Pioneer woman in the history of the program. In 2007, she just missed the top 10 after finishing 11th as a sophomore. Emmert, the second fastest freshman in the 2008 meet, placed 15th overall in the competition.

Seniors Shannon McDonald (Lorain, Amherst Steele) and Kaity Smith (Essex Junction, Vt., Essex) both earned All-OAC honors as sophomores in 2007. Smith placed 13th, while McDonald crossed the line in 17th in that event. Both will be looking to return to the podium in their final year with Marietta.

Seniors Brenda Puckett (Eaton, Preble Shawnee) and Stephanie Williams (Vincent, Warren Local) as well as junior Mehgan Cline (Dublin, Coffman) are also coming off a strong summer of training and will be working hard to push the other upperclassmen for the top five spots, which score points for the team in cross country.

The women will also turn to freshmen Lydia Tillmaand (Xenia, Xenia) and Kelsie Markin (West Liberty, Salem) as they are expected to make an impact in their first season with the program.

Seniors Cody Thomas (North Olmsted, North Olmsted) and Josh Mickle (Madison, Madison) are expected to anchor the men's team again in 2009. Thomas, who had a breakout track season in 2009, is looking to keep his momentum building during this year's cross country campaign. He closed last fall's cross country season with his best race of the year, as he was the Pioneers' top finisher at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship. Mickle, named the team's Most Valuable Runner in 2008, expects to continue his development in just his second year running collegiate cross country. He will look to move up his placement at the OAC Championship after finishing a team-best 27th in 2008.

Sophomore Terrance Wallace (Westerville, Westerville Central) made an immediate impact on the team a year ago and should be challenging his teammates for the top scoring positions in 2009.

Seniors Kent Reiber (Avon Lake, Avon Lake) and Michael Siringer (Willowick, Willoughby South ) as well as junior Max Kenngott (Akron, St. Vincent-St. Mary) and sophomore Andy Guimond (Marietta, Marietta) are all primed for solid seasons after having strong summers of training.

The men should also receive a boost from freshmen Caleb Ellis (St. Albans, W.Va., St. Albans), Sean Hoover (Kent, Kent Roosevelt) and Caleb Muller (Columbus, Bexley) who all bring impressive high school profiles to the Pioneers' men's team.

“The overall improvement of the runners in our program will be the determining factor in our level of success,” Stanley said. “The development of the returning upperclassmen and the quality of the incoming freshmen will enhance our team. It make it very easy to dream big with our goals this season.”

Marietta will open the 2009 season Sept. 12 with the Carl Broughton Invitational. The lone home competition of the season will take place at the Broughton Nature Preserve and Wildlife Education Area. The women's 5K race is slated for 11 a.m. and the men's 8K race will follow at 12 p.m.

On Sept. 26, the Pioneers will return to action at the Otterbein Invitational. The All-Ohio Championship is scheduled at Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 2. Marietta will then compete at Oberlin's Inter-Regional Rumble on Oct. 17. The 2009 OAC Championship, hosted by Wilmington, is slated for Oct. 31 with the NCAA Great Lake Regional set to take place on Nov. 14 in Terre Haute, Ind.