March 14, 2008

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Navy rifle team scored a 2268 on the first day of the NCAA Championships during Friday's smallbore discipline to finish seventh out of eight teams after day one. Army leads the two-day event after shooting a 2318, and four other teams are within 13 points of the front-running Black Knights.

"While we were seventh, we shot about our season averages," said Navy head coach Bill Kelley. "But this is the NCAA Championships and you have to shoot well to compete and show some improvement. We weren't able to do that today and it cost us in the team race. We just had a very average day."

Senior Josh Albright, last year's NCAA smallbore champion, fired a 577 to lead Navy. Senior Monica Amagna scored a 570, while freshmen Chris Burleson and Alison Lankes totaled a 566 and a 555, respectively.

TCU and Alaska are tied for second with a 2312, while Nebraska and West Virginia are close behind with a 2308 and 2305, respectively. Kentucky totaled a 2298 for sixth place and Nevada rounded out the team scoring with a 2257.

Army's Chris Abalo cruised to the individual title, by firing a 588, then adding a 99.6 in the finals to win the title by over five points.

The Mids will compete in the air rifle competition tomorrow.

"Air rifle has been our strength, so hopefully we can put up a good score and move up in the standings," said Kelley.

# GO NAVY #