Mid-distance runners get it done in Delaware

DELAWARE, Ohio — Competing Saturday in Ohio Wesleyan University’s annual Marv Frye Invitational, the Kenyon College men’s track and field team leaned on its mid-distance runners to get the job done. With the bulk of their point total coming from that group, the Owls scored 41 points and finished sixth among 10 teams in the Invitational’s final standings.

The Owls’ best event was the 800-meter race. The team netted 14 points based on the results of three different runners. Leading that Kenyon trio was first-year Charlie Blackmer, who claimed the runner-up spot and eight points with a time of 1:57.27. That topped his previous outdoor best of 1:58.13, which he established a couple of weeks ago. Teammates William Wilson and Dylan Ryznar were not far behind. Wilson, a senior, clocked in at 2:00.23 for fifth place and four points, while Ryznar, a first-year, finished in 2:02.62 for seventh place and two points. 

The 1,500-meter race was also productive for the Purple and White. Another trio of runners accounted for a dozen points in the event. Senior Peter Bernhardt was the first Kenyon runner to the line, crossing in 4:05.79 for third place and six points. Junior Colt Murphy was next, finishing fifth with a time of 4:11.57. Rounding out the Kenyon results was another junior, Owen Rodstrom. He stopped the clock with a personal-best 4:13.77 for seventh place.

In field events, J’Sun Gardner and Graham Yeager combined to earn seven more points toward Kenyon’s total. Gardner garnered four points for a fifth-place finish in the javelin, while Yeager yielded three points for a sixth-place showing in the discus. Gardner’s best in the javelin traveled 134-7 (41.04 meters). Yeager’s best twirl in the discus measured 137-10 (42.01 meters).

At the end of the Invitational, the Owls put together a third -place finish in the 4×400-meter relay. The foursome of Marius Mazeika, Joshua Greville, Wilson, and Blackmer worked together to record a time of 3:27.22, which tacked on eight more points to the team’s total.