WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Navy Women's Swimming and Diving team dominated in a 204-96 win over the Black Knights at Crandall Pool in West Point, N.Y., and won 12 events to earn the victory.
"Great team win," said Navy women's swimming head coach John Morrison, who with the win improved his record at Navy to 22-1 in Star Meets. "Knowing of the possibility of competing against Army so early in the season, we needed our senior leadership to set the tone on the first day of preseason practice. We are extremely proud of them for all of the energy they brought each day. They trusted the process and held our team to a high standard."
Navy's women's team found itself trailing 25-13 after the diving events, but won the first three swimming races to take a 56-37 lead.
The run started with Navy winning and also placing third in the 200 medley relay (1:39.35, 1:41.22). Then Brynn Stoneburg (10:02.05) won the 1000 free with teammate Marin Rose placing second (10:09.62). That effort was followed by Kaitlyn Landers (1:47.43), Erin Miller (1:48.04) and Elizabeth Bryan (1:49.31) going 1-2-3 in the 200 free.
"Our medley relay set the tone with a pool record," said Morrison, "then our distance team and 200 freestylers kept the momentum going. The team continued to support one another to many incredible early season performances."
Army swept the first-place finishes in the women's and men's 100 backstroke races in what would be the lone time the Black Knights would do so on the night.
Corrine Warriner led a 1-2-3 Navy finish with her 1:00.09 in the 100 breast as Marley Barnard placed second (1:01.25) and Danica Aten finished in third place (1:02.05).
In the next event, women's team captain Clarice Spencer claimed the gold medal in the women's 200 fly (2:01.38).
Landers earned her second win of the meet as she posted a time of 50.19 to win the 100 free, then Ela Habjan (2:00.92) and Hannah Bateman (2:01.24) placed first and second in the 200 back. That was followed by another 1-2-3 Navy finish in the 200 breast with Warriner (2:12.58), Barnard (2:12.85) and Bryan (2:16.84) claiming the three medals.
The Navy teams proceeded to combine to outscore Army 32-6 in the 500 free races. Aten (4:50.40), Stoneburg (4:52.69) and Rose (4:59.49) were the top-three finishers.
Spencer tallied her second victory in the 100 fly with a time of 55.35, then Bryan (2:00.78), Elsie De La Cruz (2:02.46) and Warriner (2:05.13) finished in first, second and third places in the 200 IM.