GREENCASTLE, Ind. (February 24, 2023) – Highlighted by a conference title by Jack Blais in the long jump to go along with a second-place performance by Chris Slater in the shot put, Denison University men's track & field currently sits in second place after day one of the 2023 North Coast Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship hosted at DePauw University. With 43 team points, the Big Red trail first-place Wabash College (49) by six points while DePauw (39) is four points behind Denison in third place. The Little Giants earned wins in the shot put and the distance medley relay to take over the lead from the Big Red.

After beginning the meet in first place thanks to Jacob Brown's conference championship in the heptathlon held at Denison last weekend, Denison got off to a great start on Friday as Blais brought home the win in the long jump with a leap of 6.53 meters. Other point scorers (top-8) for the Big Red in the long jump were Brown (6.23 meters) in seventh place and Hilton Sanchez (6.22 meters) right behind him in eighth place. Angelo Ricci (6.19 meters) finished just outside of the top-eight in ninth place.

The Big Red then put together four top-eight finishes in the shot put, led by Slater's all-conference mark of 15.00 meters, which was good for second place behind only Quinn Sholar (15.87 meters) of Wabash. Finishing in sixth, seventh and eighth place, respectively, for the Big Red was Collin Hill (14.10 meters), Owen Mathes (13.85 meters) and Gabe Springer (13.27 meters).

In the first track event, Noah Cyr finished in fifth place with a time of 15:17.81 in the 5,000 meter run.

Unfortunately, after the Big Red entered the final event of the evening with a 41-39 lead over Wabash in the team standings, Wabash won the distance medley relay with a time of 10:27.89 while Denison finished seventh at 10:43.35.

In the 60 meter hurdle prelims, Ari Skolnik was first overall with a time of 8.46 seconds while Brown was seventh at 8.82 seconds.

Jaylin Epps was fourth in the 60 meter dash prelims with a time of 7.06 seconds and was fourth in the 200 meter dash prelims with a time of 22.79 seconds. Malik Holley added a sixth-place finish at 22.88 seconds behind Epps in the 200 meter dash prelims.

Nathan Hydukovich was sixth in the 400 meter dash prelims at 50.95 seconds and Declan Toomey was sixth in the 800 meter run prelims at 2:01.32.
 
NCAC CHAMPIONSHIPS:

• Jack Blais – long jump – 6.53 meters (21-05.25)

 
All-NCAC PERFORMANCES (TOP-3):

• Jack Blais – first place in the long jump – 6.53 meters (21-05.25)
• Chris Slater – second place in the shot put – 15.00 meters (49-02.50)

 
OTHER POINT SCORERS (TOP-8):

• Noah Cyr – fifth place in the 5,000 meter run – 15:17.61
• Collin Hill – sixth place in the shot put – 14.10 meters (46-03.25)
• Jacob Brown – seventh place in the long jump – 6.23 meters (20-05.25)
• Owen Mathes – seventh place in the shot put – 13.85 meters (45-05.25)
• Distance Medley Relay team – seventh place – 10:43.35 (Joshua Lamb, Liam Quinlan, Ian Harrington, Oliver DiCerbo)
• Gabe Springer – eighth place in the shot put – 13.27 meters (43-06.50)
• Hilton Sanchez – eighth place in the long jump – 6.22 meters (20-05.25)

 
FINALS QUALIFERS:

• Ari Skolnik – first place in the 60 meter hurdle prelims – 8.46 seconds
• Jaylin Epps – fourth place in the 60 meter dash prelims – 7.06 seconds
• Jaylin Epps – fourth place in the 200 meter dash prelims – 22.79 seconds
• Nathan Hydukovich – sixth place in the 400 meter dash prelims – 50.95 seconds
• Declan Toomey – sixth place in the 800 meter run prelims – 2:01.32
• Malik Holley – sixth place in the 200 meter dash prelims – 22.88 seconds
• Jacob Brown – seventh place in the 60 meter hurdle prelims – 8.82 seconds

 
NEXT UP: The Big Red will return to the track at DePauw on Saturday, February 25, for day two of the NCAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. Field events will begin at 10 a.m. and the track events will start at 2:15 p.m.
 
Day One Results