WEST POINT, N.Y. – Nathan Kent delivered a heroic anchor leg in the 4x400-meter relay to secure the event victory and clinch a dramatic 103-100 win for the Navy men's track and field team (1-0) over Army (0-1) on Saturday afternoon in West Point. Kent came from behind in the final 200 meters to seal the team victory after already capturing individual titles in the 400-meter and 200-meter dashes.
The meet is part of the overall Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA.
This win marks Navy's 14th-straight outdoor Star victory over Army. The Midshipmen claimed 10 event titles throughout the afternoon to maintain their success in the storied rivalry.
"Being able to figure out a way to win in a meet that is designed to be close and winning the star is always significant to us," director of track & field Jamie Cook said. "This senior class going through their entire career never losing to Army is impressive, and that shows how successful this program has been through their time here. I'm proud of this team on how they battled and fought through adversity and figured out a way to win the meet."
Track Events
The meet came down to the 4x400-meter relay in a winner-take-all race as Navy held a 98-97 lead entering the event.
The Navy squad of Simon Alexander, David Walker, Ayden Henley and Kent clocked a 3:13.10 to narrowly beat Army's effort of 3:16.37. Kent proved to be the difference maker as he turned on the gas in the final 200 meters to secure the overall meet. The teams were essentially tied through three legs of the race as Army held a lead of just one-hundredth of a second entering the anchor leg. Kent posted a time of 46.20 in his 400 meters to better the 49.49 recorded by Army's Trey McGinnis. McGinnis held a lead of a couple of strives before Kent made his move to win in impressive fashion.
"Nathan [Kent] has been that guy since he arrived," Cook remarked. "To have the meet come down to the 4x400-meter relay, we were very confident in Nathan to figure out a way to get it done."
Kent also dominated the sprints by winning the 400-meter race in 46.70. He later took the 200 meters with the second-fastest time in school history at 20.76.
Navy secured a clean sweep in the 110-meter hurdles led by Jason Keiser (14.05), who won the event for the third time this season. Michael Wilkerson (14.28) and Bobby Wind (14.32) followed to complete the podium positions. Keiser added a second victory in the 400-meter hurdles with a season-best 53.27 while Ayden Henley took second in a personal-best 53.42.
"Jason [Keiser] has been great all year," said Cook. "Ayden [Henley] as a freshman also did well. Michael Wilkersonand Bobby Wind put together strong races too. We have an impressive hurdles group."
Dane Elke won the 1,500-meter race in 3:51.33 to hold off Army's Adam Furman, who placed second in 3:51.47. Matt Newell finished just behind in third place at 3:52.59.
"Dane [Eike] is super reliable," stated Cook. "We put him in one event today and he did what he needed to do to get the win."
Jonathan Skemp (9:03.16) and Trevor Hayes (9:04.22) placed second and third, respectively, in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Tyler Yurich (10.55) secured second place and Marcel Jackson (10.69) finished in third place in the 100 meters.
Justin Mumford's 14:18.93 was good enough for second place in the 5,000 meters. Mumford had a valiant comeback effort on the final lap but couldn't pass Army's Nathan Davis, who won the event in 14:17.86.
Army won the 4x100-meter relay in 39.59 over Navy's quartet of Jackson, Kent, Jonah Johnson and Yurich, which finished in 39.82. That effort was the sixth-fastest time in program history.
Field Events
William Pierce won the first event of the day for Navy in the long jump with a leap of 7.54 meters (24-9), the fifth-best mark in school history. Nicke Simmons added a fourth-place finish with a jump of 7.23 meters (23-08.75).
"That was a great performance in the long jump by [William] Pierce to go out and have one of the furthest jumps in program history," said Cook.
The Midshipmen swept the pole vault as Brian Schloeder cleared 5.11 meters (16-09.25) for the win while Gunnar Kimbell and Cooper Wakley tied for second place (4.91m / 16-01.25).
"They were fantastic today," stated Cook of the pole vaulters. "Coach [Rory] Quiller always has the athletes prepared especially in dealing with some windy conditions like today."
Gary Choice III won the triple jump with a career-best mark of 14.70 meters (48-02.75). Sheldon Ulmer also earned a victory in the high jump by clearing 2.04 meters (6-08.25).
"That was a surprising win in the triple jump," remarked Cook, "Gary [Choice III] created some good momentum for us in the second half of the meet. I'm really proud of Gary."
Merrick Hocking (60.45m / 198-4) and Cooper Hydock (57.59m / 188-11) finished second and third, respectively, in the hammer throw with personal best distances. Hunter-Robbins Mann took second in the discus (50.16m / 164-7) while Blake Thompson finished third (46.66m / 153-1).
Malachi Cummins led the Mids in the javelin with a second-place throw of 61.16 meters (200-8). Kyle Ashley finished in fourth place in the event at 58.68 meters (192-6).