MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College men's and women's cross country teams are optimistic that young talent will enable the Pioneers to offset the graduation of 11 seniors and maintain their progress up the Ohio Athletic Conference standings after finishing sixth at the OAC Championship a year ago.

Head Coach Derek Stanley, entering his eighth year, expects the return of seven lettermen on the men's team and six lettermen on the women's squad to anchor the program both in leadership and in performance on the course.

"The young talent we have coming in added with the returning upper classmen will sum a productive season for us," said Stanley. “I feel this will be our strongest year by far in terms of team cohesion which will be a foundation we draw support from as we reach for our season goals.”

Junior Terrance Wallace (Westerville/Westerville Central) and sophomores Caleb Ellis (St. Albans, W.Va./St. Albans) and Caleb Muller (Columbus/Bexley) were consistently three of the men's top runners in 2009 and will be the key to the men's success in 2010.

"Terrance and the Calebs have put in extensive training and are entering in as good of shape or better than anyone we've ever had come to campus," Stanley said. "Each has won at least one road race this summer. If they can consistently run together near the front of the pack it could be a very good year."

Cross country races rely on the strength of a team's top seven, and the Pioneers have a solid group of returners that will compete for the other four important spots. Senior Max Kenngott (Akron/St. Vincent-St. Mary) has been a valuable performer throughout his career and is working to continue that contribution for one more season. Junior Andy Guimond (Marietta/Marietta) and sophomores Sean Hoover (Kent/Kent Roosevelt) and Bryn Perkey (Middlebourne, W.Va./Tyler Consolidated) have all had another strong summer of training and their hard work should pay off this fall.

Freshmen Luke Badaczewski (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) and Joey Meyer (Willowick/Eastlake North) are two newcomers that are expected to make an impact in their first season with the men's program.

Junior Jennifer Emmert (Martinsburg, W.Va./Martinsburg), who finished 22nd at last year's OAC Championship after taking 15th as a freshman, returns to lead the Marietta women for a second straight season. The 2008 All-OAC selection was the Pioneers' top performer in four of the five races in which see competed in 2009.

“We may be thin in terms of depth on the women's team, but as long as we avoid injury we definitely have the talent needed for a very successful season,” Stanley said.

Senior Stephanie Williams (Vincent/Warren Local) rejoined to the team a year ago and consistently placed among the squad's top three. She is expected to continue to improve and provided key scoring again in 2010. Junior Reba Leonard (Brookville/Brookville), who missed all of last year with injury, is now healthy and will combine with senior Mehgan Cline (Dublin/Coffman) to give the Pioneers more experience and talent among its top runners. In addition, sophomore Lydia Tillmaand (Xenia/Xenia) is looking to build on a successful 2009 cross country campaign.

Freshman Amy Kaufmann success at the high school level should allow her to contribute immediately to the women's team. In addition, freshman Emily Lorek (Troy/Troy) has the potential to quickly develop into a valuable runner in her first year with the program.

Marietta will open the 2010 season Sept. 4 with the Sea Gull Opener in Salisbury, Md. The Pioneers will then host the Carl Broughton Invitational Sept. 11. The lone home competition of the season will take place at the Broughton Nature Preserve and Wildlife Education Area. The men's 8K race is slated for 11 a.m. and the women's 5K race will follow at 12 p.m.

On Sept. 25, the Pioneers will return to action at the Otterbein Invitational. The All-Ohio Championship is scheduled at Cedarville Oct. 1. Marietta will then compete at Oberlin's Inter-Regional Rumble Oct. 16. The 2010 OAC Championship, hosted by Otterbein, is slated for Oct. 30 with the NCAA Great Lakes Regional set to take place Nov. 12 in Holland, Mich.