March 13, 2010

• 2010 NCAA Rifle Championships Central

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Navy rifle team closed out its 2009-10 season with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Rifle Championships which concluded today at Texas Christian University.

The Mids totaled a 2314 in the air rifle discipline, which combined with their 2288 from yesterday, gave the Mids a total of 4602. Navy had finished second in the air rifle gun two straight years, but never got it going on day two this year, slipping to eighth for the air rifle discipline. The Mids finished seventh in yesterday's smallbore discipline.

The host school, TCU, set an NCAA aggregate record with a 4675, including a blistering 2361 in air rifle. Alaska-Fairbanks finished second with a 4653, while West Virginia was third with a 4641.

"We obviously did not have a good day today. But if you looked around all the scores, a lot of the top shooters in the country didn't have a good day today. We just didn't get it done," said Navy head coach Bill Kelley. "I am proud of what we accomplished this year and the future looks good for our program. All four of our shooters from this weekend are back next year, so we hope to be right back here a year from now."

Alison Lankes led Navy in air rifle with a 582, while freshman Ryan Williams totaled a 579. Chris Burleson, who finished third in yesterday's smallbore competition, fired a 578 and Kenan Wang scored a 575.

Navy was competing in its 25th NCAA Championship and 20th in a row. The Mids finished the year with an 8-1 dual-meet record.

TEAM STANDINGS

Team                   SB    Air    Total1) Texas Christian      2314   2361     46752) Alaska-Fairbanks     2320   2333     46533) West Virginia        2308   2333     46414) Kentucky             2296   2344     46405) Army                 2291   2336     46276) Nebraska             2295   2324     46197) Murray State         2272   2339     46118) Navy                 2288   2314     4602

# GO NAVY #