GRANVILLE, Ohio (February 5, 2022) – The Denison University men's track & field team took fourth place overall at the 2022 Bob Shannon Invitational hosted inside the Mitchell Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon. Finishing with 103 team points for the day, the Big Red landed 46 points ahead of fifth-place Wittenberg (57), but fell just three points shy of Wooster (106) in third place. California (Pa.) collected 121 points to earn the team championship while Oho Wesleyan was second with 112 points.

Headlining the day for the Big Red was a win in the 4x200 meter relay as Malik Holley, Jairus Branch, Jack Blais and Travis Dunson teamed up to take first place with a time of 1:33.58.

Isaiah Kessler and Angelo Ricci both had two top three-finishes on the day as Kessler was second in the pole vault (4.25 meters) and was third in the 60 meter hurdles (9.18 seconds) while Ricci was third in both the long jump (6.23 meters) and the triple jump (12.85 meters).

Blais took fifth place in the long jump (6.09 meters) and was sixth in the triple jump (11.87 meters) behind Ricci.

Collin Hill (14.47 meters) and Chris Slater (12.82 meters) finished in second and third place, respectively, in the shot put.

Zackary Johnston had Denison's best performance in the distance events after taking second place in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:04.22.

Also on the track, Lance Tobasky was fourth in the 400 meter dash (53.32 seconds) and Nico Martinelli was fourth in the 3,000 meter run (9:28.70) while Worth Hinshaw was fifth in the mile (4:36.50) and Malik Holley was fifth in the 200 meter dash (23.22 seconds).

In the final event of the night, Kessler, Tobasky, Millan Henegar and Calvin Bailey teamed up in the 4x400 meter relay to finish fifth overall at 3:29.24.

All-Ohio Indoor Track & Field Combined Events Championships: In addition to the Bob Shannon Invitational, Denison also hosted day one of the All-Ohio Indoor Track & Field Combined Events Championships on Saturday. In the first day of the All-Ohio Heptathlon, sophomore Jacob Brown sits in first place with 2,500 points through the first four events. Brown won the 60 meter dash (7.45 seconds), the long jump (6.23 meters; 20-05.25) and the shot put (11.31 meters; 37-01.25) over Aaron Blevins of Mount Union and Matthew Reynolds from Allegheny, and was second in the high jump (1.73 meters; 5-08.00). Brown will wrap up the heptathlon on Sunday, February 6, where he will compete in the 60 meter hurdles, the pole vault and the 1,000 meter run.
 
EVENT WINNERS:

• Distance Medley Relay team – 10:37.36 (Worth Hinshaw, Lance Tobasky, Zackary Johnston, Keanan Ginell)
• 4x200 Meter Relay team – 1:33.58 (Malik Holley, Jairus Branch, Jack Blais, Travis Dunson)

 
TOP-10 FINISHES:

• Isaiah Kessler – second place in the pole vault – 4.25 meters (13-11.25)
• Collin Hill – second place in the shot put – 14.17 meters (46-06.00)
• Zackary Johnston – second place in the 800 meter run – 2:04.22
• Angelo Ricci – third place in the long jump – 6.23 meters (20-05.25)
• Angelo Ricci – third place in the triple jump – 12.85 meters (42-02.00)
• Chris Slater – third place in the shot put – 12.82 meters (42-00.75)
• Isaiah Kessler – third place in the 60 meter hurdles – 9.18 seconds
• Lance Tobasky – fourth place in the 400 meter dash – 53.32 seconds
• Nico Martinelli – fourth place in the 3,000 meter run – 9:28.70
• Jack Blais – fifth place in the long jump – 6.09 meters (19-11.75)
• Worth Hinshaw – fifth place in the mile – 4:36.50
• Malik Holley – fifth place in the 200 meter dash – 23.22 seconds
• 4x400 Meter Relay team – fifth place – 3:39.24 (Isaiah Kessler, Lance Tobasky, Millan Henegar, Calvin Bailey)
• Grant Plasch – sixth place in the pole vault – 3.50 meters (11-05.75)
• Jack Blais – sixth place in the triple jump – 11.87 meters (38-11.50)
• Malik Holley – eighth place in the 60 meter dash – 7.23 seconds
• Thomas Zallocco-Smith – eighth place in the 3,000 meter run – 9:41.01

 
NEXT UP: Denison will return to action next Friday, February 11, when the Big Red travel to Delaware, Ohio, to compete in the Ohio Wesleyan Open.
 
Bob Shannon Invitational Results