Navy Men’s Cross Country Dominates Army for Eighth Straight Star Victory, Women Fall Despite Strong Team Effort
By Brian Hradsky
October 20, 2026
The Navy Midshipmen cross country programs split their annual Army-Navy Star Meet on Saturday, October 17, at the USNA Cross Country Course in Annapolis, with the men’s team delivering a dominant 19-42 victory while the women’s team fell 21-35. Junior Dane Eike captured the men’s individual championship as Navy placed four runners among the top five finishers and extended its winning streak against Army to eight consecutive meetings. On the women’s side, senior Lexi Ensor finished third overall to lead a competitive Midshipmen effort, but Army’s strong performance at the front of the field proved decisive. Both programs concluded their regular seasons and will now turn their attention to the Patriot League Championships on October 31.
Navy Men Dominate Army With Outstanding Team Performance
The Navy men’s cross country team delivered one of its strongest performances of the season, overwhelming Army with exceptional depth and disciplined pack running. The Midshipmen secured a convincing 19-42 victory in the 4.9-mile competition, placing 10 runners among the top 12 finishers. Navy claimed four of the first five individual positions and maintained an impressive 43.5-second separation between its first and fifth scoring runners. The victory improved Navy’s Star Meet record to 1-0 this season and extended its remarkable winning streak against Army to eight consecutive years.
Eike led the Midshipmen with an outstanding individual performance, completing the course in 23 minutes, 46.4 seconds to earn first place. The junior opened the race in third position through the first 1,000 meters before moving into second place at the one-mile checkpoint. Eike eventually took control at the fourth checkpoint and maintained his advantage throughout the remainder of the competition. His winning time placed him more than 12 seconds ahead of teammate James Partlow, who secured second place in 23:58.5.
Partlow’s performance gave Navy the first two individual finishers and established an early advantage in the team scoring. Sophomore Luke Bowlsby followed with a fourth-place finish in 24:05.8, while junior Trevor Hayes crossed the line fifth in 24:08.7. Sophomore Shane Conroy completed Navy’s scoring group with a seventh-place performance in 24:29.8. The five scoring runners combined for just 19 points, giving the Midshipmen a commanding advantage over Army’s 42-point total.
Navy’s depth extended well beyond its five scoring runners, with senior Zack Poekert placing eighth in 24:30.5 and freshman Jace Deledonne finishing ninth in 24:31.8. Their performances helped prevent Army from improving its scoring position and further demonstrated the Midshipmen’s dominance throughout the competition. Junior Patrick Gandini finished 10th in 24:37.5, followed closely by junior Billy Driscoll in 11th at 24:37.6. Senior Owen Ahten completed Navy’s remarkable run of 10 finishers among the top 12 with a time of 24:42.5.
The Midshipmen also received contributions from freshman Dom Pappagallo, who finished 14th in 24:50.4, and junior Jonathan Skemp, who completed the race in 25:29.3. Navy’s ability to place so many runners near the front of the field reflected the program’s preparation and competitive depth. The Midshipmen finished with an average time of 24:05.8 among their five scoring runners, compared with Army’s approximately 24:35 average. That difference helped Navy establish control of the competition and secure another important victory in the historic service academy rivalry.
Eike and Navy’s Young Runners Lead the Way
One of the most encouraging aspects of Navy’s victory was the performance of its younger runners, who occupied all five scoring positions. Eike, Partlow and Hayes represented the junior class, while Bowlsby and Conroy provided important contributions as sophomores. Their success demonstrated that Navy has established a strong foundation for continued competitiveness beyond the current season. The Midshipmen also benefited from the leadership of experienced runners who helped maintain the team’s collective focus throughout the race.
Head coach Aaron Lanzel praised his team’s aggressive approach and its ability to execute during one of the most important competitions of the regular season. Lanzel highlighted Eike’s decisive move into the lead, along with the performances of Partlow, Bowlsby and Hayes against Army’s leading runners. He also expressed satisfaction with Conroy’s continued development and the contributions of Navy’s younger athletes. The coaching staff believes the team’s depth and improving fitness could provide an advantage as postseason competition approaches.
The victory continued Navy’s impressive history in the men’s Army-Navy cross country rivalry, improving its all-time Star Meet record to 57-31-1. The Midshipmen have controlled the series in recent years, winning eight consecutive meetings following Army’s back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018. Navy also defeated Army 26-29 in 2025, making Saturday’s 23-point margin a substantial improvement over last season’s narrow victory. The Midshipmen will look to carry that momentum into the conference championship.
Navy Women Battle Army but Fall 21-35
The Navy women’s cross country team also demonstrated competitive depth Saturday morning, but Army claimed a 21-35 victory in the 6,000-meter competition. The Black Knights secured four of the top five individual positions, creating an advantage that Navy could not overcome despite placing several runners close together. Navy finished with an average time of 21:53.1 among its five scoring athletes and recorded a narrow 33.2-second separation between its first and fifth runners. The result dropped the Midshipmen to 0-1 in Star Meet competition this season while Army improved to 1-0.
Ensor delivered Navy’s top individual performance, placing third overall with a time of 21:35.6. The senior finished behind Army’s Mikayla Cheney, who won the race in 21:18.2, and Mia Royall, who placed second in 21:33.6. Ensor’s performance provided an important boost for Navy, particularly with senior team captain Susie Heinz unavailable for the competition. Her strong finish demonstrated the leadership and experience that the Midshipmen will need during postseason competition.
Junior Madeline Palmisciano followed Ensor with a sixth-place finish in 21:51.0, giving Navy another valuable result near the front of the field. Freshman Brianne Duynstee continued her impressive first collegiate season by finishing seventh in 21:53.7. Sophomore Juliet Frum crossed the line eighth in 21:56.4, keeping Navy’s leading group tightly connected throughout the race. Sophomore Catalina Simon completed the Midshipmen’s scoring five with an 11th-place finish in 22:08.7.
Navy also received solid performances from senior Ava Ostrowski and senior Lillee Tang, who finished 12th and 14th, respectively. Ostrowski completed the course in 22:12.0, while Tang recorded a time of 22:23.5. Their finishes provided additional depth and helped maintain Navy’s competitive position in the team standings. The Midshipmen ultimately placed five runners among the top 11 finishers, but Army’s advantage in the first five positions secured the victory.
Freshman Lucy Myers finished 15th in 22:26.2, while freshman Sam Vanderhave crossed the line in 22:57.1. Sophomore Eleanor Whisler recorded a time of 23:04.9, followed by freshman Emily Downing in 23:27.9 and junior Paige Sheiffele in 23:37.9. The performances demonstrated Navy’s developing depth, particularly among its younger runners. Although the Midshipmen did not secure the team victory, several athletes gained valuable experience against a strong conference opponent.
Navy Women Show Improvement Despite Loss
Despite the defeat, Navy’s women’s program demonstrated meaningful improvement compared with its previous meeting against Army. The Midshipmen lost the 2025 Star Meet 15-46 after the Black Knights captured the first six individual positions. Saturday’s 21-35 result represented a more competitive performance, with Navy placing Ensor third and four additional runners among the top 11. The improvement suggests the Midshipmen are making progress as they prepare for the conference championship.
Head coach Kim Lewnes praised her team’s effort and emphasized the importance of competing without Heinz, one of Navy’s most experienced runners. Lewnes recognized Ensor’s leadership and highlighted the continued development of Palmisciano, Duynstee and Simon. The coaching staff was particularly encouraged by the team’s ability to maintain a closely connected scoring group despite facing a talented Army lineup. Navy will look to build on those positives while addressing the areas that prevented the team from challenging Army’s leading runners.
The Midshipmen have finished third at the Patriot League Championships in each of the previous two seasons, providing additional motivation heading into this year’s competition. Navy’s combination of experienced upperclassmen and promising younger athletes gives the program an opportunity to improve its conference standing. Ensor’s performance against Army demonstrated that the Midshipmen have runners capable of competing near the front of important races. Continued improvement from the rest of the scoring group could help Navy challenge for a higher finish at the championship meet.
Both Programs Prepare for Patriot League Championships
Saturday’s Army-Navy Star Meet marked the conclusion of the regular season for both Midshipmen cross country programs. Navy will now turn its attention to the 2026 Patriot League Championships, scheduled for Saturday, October 31. The men’s team enters postseason competition with considerable momentum following its decisive victory over Army. The women’s team will use its competitive performance against the Black Knights as an opportunity to evaluate its progress and prepare for the conference field.
For the men, the primary objective will be maintaining the pack-running approach that produced such a dominant result against Army. Navy’s ability to place multiple runners near the front of the field could prove valuable in a championship setting where every scoring position matters. Eike and Partlow have established themselves as important contributors, while Bowlsby, Hayes and Conroy provide additional strength. The Midshipmen will attempt to translate their success in the service academy rivalry into a strong postseason performance.
The women’s program will focus on building upon its narrow scoring spread and improving its position against the Patriot League’s leading runners. Ensor provides Navy with an experienced competitor capable of challenging near the front, while Palmisciano, Duynstee and Frum have demonstrated their ability to remain competitive in important races. The potential return of Heinz could also provide additional depth, although her availability has not been confirmed. Navy will need a complete team effort to improve upon its recent third-place conference finishes.
MSB Take
Navy’s men’s cross country team delivered an impressive performance against Army, and the 19-42 victory demonstrated just how much depth the Midshipmen have developed. Placing 10 runners among the top 12 finishers against a service academy rival is a significant accomplishment, particularly when all five scoring athletes are underclassmen. Eike’s individual victory provided the headline, but Navy’s collective performance was the biggest reason for the commanding result. The Midshipmen appear well-positioned to compete at a high level when the Patriot League Championships begin.
The women’s team deserves credit for competing much more effectively against Army than it did during last season’s Star Meet. Ensor provided an excellent performance in third place, while the team’s 33.2-second scoring spread demonstrated impressive consistency. Navy still needs stronger finishes near the front of the field to challenge the Patriot League’s top programs, but the improvement against Army represents a positive development. The contributions from younger runners should also provide encouragement for the program’s future.
Both Navy programs have reasons for optimism heading into postseason competition, even though Saturday produced different results. The men demonstrated championship-level depth and the ability to control a race through disciplined pack running, while the women showed resilience and measurable progress against a strong opponent. The upcoming Patriot League Championships will provide a more complete assessment of where both programs stand against the conference. Navy’s men’s team will enter with considerable momentum, and the women’s team has an opportunity to turn a difficult rivalry loss into motivation for a stronger postseason performance.
