MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College's distance runners continued the development of their program in 2009. Head Coach Derek Stanley's men and women, now in their eighth season since being reinstated, finished sixth at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship.

"Our men's team enjoyed the results of their hard work by finishing the best they have at each championship meet they participated,” Stanley said. “Led by our seniors, the men's team became the most successful men's team I have coached.”??“The women showed well through much adversity,” Stanley said. “We were plagued by injury throughout the season and yet the women were able to pull it together when we needed it. It might not look the best on paper but the season was an inspiring one especially watching the women really come together as a team."

Marietta's men began the year with a third place finish at the Carl Broughton Invitational. The Pioneers then placed eighth at the Otterbein Invitational and 11th in Division III at the All-Ohio Championship, it highest finish at the meet. Marietta showed marked improvement going into the championship season by taking 16th place at the Inter-Regional Rumble. The men finished the year by taking a program-best 23rd place at the Great Lakes Regional Championship.

Senior Josh Mickle (Madison, Madison) earned team MVP for the second straight season. Mickle garnered All-OAC second team honors after placing 16th at the OAC Championship, making him the first Pioneer in almost four decades to earn league honors at the cross country championship. He then finished 37th at the Great Lakes Regional, which was the highest Pioneer finisher since the regional format was put in place.

Senior Michael Siringer (Willowick, Willoughby South) earned the team's most improved award after his most successful season at Marietta, and Cody Thomas (North Olmsted, North Olmsted) once again demonstrated his versatility averaging fourth in the varsity 7. Freshmen Caleb Muller (Columbus, Bexley) and Caleb Ellis (St. Albans, W.Va., St. Albans) both had outstanding freshman seasons for the Pioneers. Providing a glimpse of the future, both men ran the fastest freshman year 8k times recorded in Marietta's history. Muller accomplished this while averaging 3rd in the top 5, while Ellis averaged just over 4th.

The Pioneer women opened the year with a fifth place finish at the Carl Broughton Invitational and then took seventh at the Otterbein Invitational. Marietta also placed 14th in Division III at the All-Ohio Championship and 20th at the Inter-Regional Rumble before closing the year with a 26th place finish at the Great Lakes Regional Championship.

Sophomore Jennifer Emmert (Martinsburg, W.Va., Martinsburg) anchored the women's pack and earned MVP in 2009. She finished a team-best 22nd place at the OAC Championship and 65th place at the Great Lakes Regional.

Seniors Shannon McDonald (Lorain, Amherst Steele) and Randi Robertson (Avon Lake, Avon Lake) provided a consistent effort and helped maintain the team's exceptional 1-5 split. Junior Mehgan Cline (Dublin, Coffman) accomplished her best season with the Pioneers on her way to earning team most improved honors. Senior Stephanie Williams (Vincent, Warren Local) also improved well in her most successful season at Marietta, while freshman Lydia Tillmaand (Xenia, Xenia) who provided a much needed spark from the youth of the team.