WEST POINT, N.Y. – Senior team captain Emily Boutin posted a first-place finish individually, but Navy dropped a 26-30 decision to Army at the West Point Golf Course in the annual Star Meet as part of the overall Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA. Boutin led start to finish, closing out the 6K race with a time of 20:03.8 to win by 35.3 seconds.
 
"We were in good position through 3K, but fell apart the final mile," head coach Kim Lewnes said after the race. "Win as a team, lose as a team. Rarely does everyone have their best day on the same day, so we have always relied on our depth. In cross country, getting the fifth runner across the line before theirs is crucial and we were missing that today. This will hurt for a year, but we have two weeks to correct our mistakes to beat Army and defend our Patriot League title."
 
Through the first 450m, the Midshipmen trailed by one, 28-29, but at the 3K checkpoint, the Mids had moved up three points to take a 26-30 advantage on the Black Knights. The home team regained a lead, 26-31, through the final checkpoint at the 4.9K mark. Army maintained the lead to earn the Star.
 
Boutin, who continues to improve with every race, notched her fastest 6K time of the season. The senior led from start to finish to claim individual medalist honors. She has been Navy's top finisher in all four races that she has competed in this season.
 
"Boots had another great performance today," Lewnes said of Boutin. "As the team captain, she has been leading this team in every way. My heartbreaks especially for my seniors, but this loss will motivate us for the remaining cross country season and upcoming track and field season."
 
After Boutin, the Black Knights claimed the next three places. Navy's Sophie Compton, Ellie Abraham, and Caroline Harding finished in order, fifth, sixth, and seventh. Compton posted a time of 21:01.2 to trim nearly a minute (55.5) off of her season-best 6K time. Abraham was two tenths of a second behind Compton with a time of 21:01.4, marking her fastest 6K time of the season. Harding finished seventh overall and fourth among the Midshipmen with her fastest race of the season, 21:03.0.
 
Army rounded out the top 10 finishers. Alex Wercinski finished 11th with a time of 21:31.1, while McKenna Brophy took 12th with a time of 21:31.3. Olivia Lutkevich rounded out Navy's top seven competitors with a 14th-place finish, crossing the finish line with a time of 21:40.2.
 
Freshmen Sarah Colebrooke (21:44.2) and Lillee Tang (21:51.8) finished 16th and 17th in their first Army-Navy competition, while sophomore Mia-Claire Kezal (22:06.0) was 19th. Junior Katelyn Pepin (22:14.9) and freshman Brianna Newell (22:34.2) also competed for the Midshipmen.
 
Saturday's competition marked the conclusion of Navy's regular season as the Mids will turn their attention to action at the 2023 Patriot League Championship on Saturday, October 28.