ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy track and field team posted a sweep of the 2021 Army-Navy Outdoor Star Meet, which is part of the overall Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA.
The men's team opened the day with a 103-100 victory, while the women's team claimed a 111.5-88.5 win. For the men, it was the ninth consecutive outdoor victory in the series for Navy, while the women claimed their sixth consecutive outdoor Star.
On the men's side, Navy won nine of the 19 events, while earning maximum points in five events. The women's team won 12 events, including max points in seven events. In addition, the Mids set a pair of school records, while notching five additional performances that rank in the program's all-time top 10.
The Navy men opened the day with a 103-100 victory over Army in the men's competition. The Midshipmen won nine of the 19 total events on the day, earning max points in five events. The men's action was highlighted by Thompson's school-record time of 13.98 in the 110m hurdles.
Army won the hammer throw to take an early 7-4 advantage, but Thompson recorded a victory in the long jump (7.04m / 23-01.25) to knot the score at 11-11 through two events. Julian Perez (9:10.50) and Elliott Schultz (9:17.15) finished 1-2 in the 3,000m steeplechase to earn maximum points in the event and give the Midshipmen a 19-14 advantage through three events.
Army was able to win the 4x100m relay, the 1,500m run, and the shot put to take a 38-36 lead after seven events.
Navy swept the pole vault and the 110m hurdles to earn max points in each event. Johnstone registered a meet-record height of 5.17m (16-11.50) in the pole vault to win the event, while Thompson paced all competitors in the 110m hurdles with his school record. Leading 52-44, the Midshipmen capitalized on a sweep in the 400m dash, as Eric Hughey (48.09) won the event by nearly half a second.
The Black Knights earned max points in the javelin, but the Midshipmen responded with first-place finishes by Austin Pierce (10.59) in the 100m dash and Sean Casey (1:51.54) in the 800m run. Eli Lake and Cole Bailey went 1-2 in high jump tying with a height of 2.00m (6-06.75) to give Navy an advantage.
Army won the 400m hurdles, but Pierce (21.31) responded with a victory in the 200m dash. Second place finishes in the discus and 5,000m run helped Navy inch closer to the 102 points needed for victory. The Mids claimed second and third in the triple jump to lead 100-95 through 18 events. Navy finished the 4x400m relay successfully to earn three points and secure the Star victory.
The Navy women's team won 12 events, including max points in seven events. The Midshipmen gained momentum in the 4x100m relay as the Black Knights were disqualified after a failed exchange of the baton in the race.
Army opened up the meet with a victory in the hammer throw to take a 7-4 advantage after one event. The Midshipmen tied the score as Foster posted a school-record throw of 51.97m (170-06) in the javelin to win the event. Orie (14.73m / 48-04.00) put the Mids in front with a first-place finish in the shot put and Mealer (5.75m / 18-10.50) extended the advantage with a win in the long jump.
The Black Knights won the steeplechase, but momentum swung in the Midshipmen's favor in the 4x100m relay as Army dropped the baton, giving Navy (46.76) a 5-0 win in the event.
Navy swept the pole vault, earning maximum points thanks to Stephanie Jacobs (3.86m / 12-08.00), Charlene Morke (3.71m / 12-02.00), and Alayna Schloeder (3.71m / 12-02.00). Following a win by Army in the 1,500m run, the two teams split the high jump with all five competitors in the event clearing 1.65m (5-05.00). Molly Chapman for Navy was credited with the win based on judge's decision.
Katie Halbert (14.04), Alexa Arthun (14.09), and Mealer (14.29) went 1-2-3 in the 100m hurdles, while Chloe Alfieri (55.55), Chelsey Edwards (57.88), and Helen West (57.90) swept the 400m dash. Molly Mangan (11.84) kept the momentum rolling with a win in the 100m dash.
Army claimed the discus and the 800m run, but Arthun (1:01.30) countered with a victory in the 400m hurdles. After the Black Knights earned a win in the triple jump, Navy saw Mangan (24.61) and Sabrina Sutter (25.16) finish first and second in the 200m dash to give the Midshipmen a 101.5-79.5 advantage with two events left.
Jessica Nangle (16:56.56) and Emily Craig (17:31.43) finished second and third in the 5,000m run to give Navy enough points to officially seal the victory, but the 4x400m relay (3:46.88) posted a first-place performance to put an exclamation point on the day.
