GAMBIER, Ohio – With championship aspirations looming large, Kenyon College sets the stage for the 2026 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as the Owls prepare to host the conference's two-day finale beginning Friday, May 1 at Wilder Track.

Friday's action gets underway at 9 a.m., highlighted by the women's 10,000-meter race to open the meet. Competition resumes Saturday at 10 a.m., with a full slate of field events kicking off the final day.

The championship spans two weekends, with the decathlon contested last week at Denison University. Kenyon was represented by seniors Josh Greville and J'Sun Gardner, both of whom delivered impactful performances.

Greville turned in a standout showing, claiming first place in the 400 meters (49.86) and adding another event victory in the 1,500 meters with a personal-best time of 4:29.32. His third-place overall finish netted the Owls six early team points heading into the weekend. Gardner made his mark in the throwing events, placing second in the javelin with a career-best toss of 153-6 (47.63m) and finishing third in the discus at 114-8 (34.96m).

A year ago, Kenyon finished eighth at the outdoor championships. This season, the Owls are projected to climb the standings, entering the weekend slotted sixth with 35 projected points. Distance and mid-distance events headline Kenyon's strengths, while key contributions in the field will be critical to a potential rise up the leaderboard.
In the field events, sophomore Graham Yeager looks poised to lead the charge in the discus, owning the conference's second-best mark at 45.05 meters (147-10). He also ranks 22nd in the shot put and 27th in the hammer throw. Greville adds versatility in the high jump, where he sits 14th with a clearance of 1.79 meters (5-10.5). Senior Ezekiel Kiwanuka enters the long jump ranked 11th (6.45m / 21-2), while first-year Zavier McGhee continues to emerge in the triple jump, currently 13th in the NCAC at 12.37 meters (40-7).

On the track, the 3,000-meter steeplechase once again shapes up as a pivotal event for the Owls. After placing three runners in the top seven a year ago, Kenyon returns even deeper, with five athletes ranked inside the top 10. Senior Colt Murphy leads the group with the conference's second-best time (9:28.49), followed closely by Owen Rodstrom in third (9:31.05). Dylan Sibbit (9:55.71) ranks eighth, while Noah Hopkins (10:02.95) and first-year John Coffin (10:02.95) round out the Owls' strong presence.
Distance events remain Kenyon's strongest weapon. Sophomore Charlie Blackmer has been electric this season and enters the weekend as a top contender across three events. He holds the fourth seed in the 800 meters (1:54.47) and the second seed in both the 1,500 (3:51.73) and 5,000 (14:52.14). Murphy adds depth, ranking 14th in the 1,500 (4:01.91) and fifth in the 5,000 (15:12.79).

In the 10,000 meters, Kenyon boasts three runners inside the top seven. Josua Breard leads the trio with the fourth-fastest time in the conference (32:23.05), followed by Henry Rodrigues in sixth (33:24.57) and Hopkins in seventh (33:28.91).

In the sprints, Greville is set to contribute in the 400-meter hurdles, where he ranks eighth (56.58). The relay squads will also play a key role. The 4x100-meter relay team of Julius Thompson, Satchel Barnes, Jordan Benjamin, and Kudzaishe Mhere enters ranked ninth (43.73), while the 4x400-meter relay group of Marius Mazeika, Thompson, Mhere, and Greville carries the fifth-best time in the conference at 3:21.22.

Ticket prices are set at $6 for adults and $4 for children (18 and under) and non-NCAC students. All-Session passes are set at $11 for adults and $7 for children. Students from NCAC institutions with a valid ID will be admitted free of charge.