Feb. 16, 2008

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy fired a season-best score in the air rifle discipline to help the Mids to a 4647-4100 victory over John Jay on Saturday at the NCAA Qualifier in Annapolis. The Mids improved to 8-2 overall and should have done enough today to qualify for the NCAA Championships in mid-March.

The 4647 was the second-highest tally of the season for the team.

"I think the score should probably be high enough, but you never know until all the scores are in from the weekend," said Navy head coach Bill Kelley. "I was very pleased with our performances. We delivered at crunchtime and shot a really nice total today."

The Mids started the day with a 2304 in smallbore, their second-highest score of the season. Freshman Chris Burleson earned medalist honors with a 579, while Josh Albright followed with a 578. Monica Amagna and Alison Lankes scored a 576 and a 571, respectively.

Navy then followed that strong performance with a 2343 in air rifle, its top air rifle score of the season. Lisa Kunzelman garnered medalist honors with a 591, followed by Amagna's 587 and Albright's 586. Lankes rounded out the scoring with a 579 in her first competition in the air rifle discipline.

"The highlight of the day for me was our plebes really stepping up," said Kelley. "They have really lifted us late in the year and shot well today. We feel that it is starting to come together at the right time."

The Mids will compete in the MAC Championship at a site to be determined on March 2.

# GO NAVY #