GAMBIER, Ohio - Highlighted by Esteban Sainz' conference title in the javelin throw, Denison men's track & field currently sits in third place after the first day of action at the 2019 North Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Totalling 32 points through six events, the Big Red are only six points behind second-place Oberlin with 38 points, while Wabash College currently holds the lead at 58 team points.

Sainz led DU's push during the first day of events as he placed first overall in the javelin on a personal best mark of 189'6" (57.77 meters) to claim the first NCAC championship of his career. Beating his previous PR by 26 feet, Sainz now holds the second longest personal record in program history, falling just three inches shy of Steve Gallego at 189'9" (2009). Also competing in the javelin from Denison was junior Ivan Maldonado who placed fourth overall at 169'3" (51.60 meters) while James Dixie followed in 10th place on a distance of 147'9" (45.03 meters).

Dixie also took part in the triple jump event where he placed seventh overall on a jump of 41'8.50" (12.71 meters). Senior David Carter led DU in the triple jump with a fourth-place finish at 44'0.50" (13.42 meters). Junior Austin McManus rounded out the field events for Denison on Friday as he finished the discus in 16th place on a throw of 119'9" (36.52 meters).

On the track, sophomore Adam Cromwell led the Big Red in the 10,000-meter run where he placed fourth overall on a time of 33:08.77. Senior Jack Marchetti followed in 10th place at 33:50.55 and Keanan Ginell landed in 12th (34:29.54).

In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Rhys Fitschen-Brown finished 11th overall after clocking in at 10:25.24.

In the prelims, Denison notched a pair of top-10 finishes led by senior Niall Clancey with a fifth-place finish in the 800-meter run on a new personal-best time of 1:56.83. His top-eight time also qualified him for Saturday's 800-meter final where he will compete in the second heat. In the 110-meter hurdles, Dixie placed finished in 10th at 16.87.

Also competing in the prelims was Seven Lindsey in the 100-meter dash (12th - 11.32) and Sam Bloodworth in the 400-meter dash (18th - 52.13).

The Big Red will return to Kenyon on Saturday, May 4 for the second day of action at the 2019 NCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship.