ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy men's track & field team secured its 12^th-consecutive Patriot League outdoor title and 13^th overall Saturday afternoon as the two-day league championship concluded at Ingram Field in Annapolis. The Midshipmen dominated the meet and scored 298 points to outdistance second-place Army (199.5) by 98.5 points.  
 
Individually, Navy director of track & field Jamie Cook and his staff earned the league's coaching staff-of-the-year award, Nick Simmons earned the Patriot League Field Athlete-of-the-Meet award and Jason Keiser continued his stellar rookie campaign by securing the Patriot League Rookie-of-the-Meet honor.  
 
"We came into this weekend knowing we had to fire on all cylinders, and we did just that," Cook said. "Scoring almost 300 points and winning by nearly 100 points is a pretty significant victory. I'm really proud of these men and the way they prepared."
 
Track Events
The 3,000-meter steeplechase opened the track events and was highlighted by Patrick Gandini reaching the podium with a third-place finish and career-best time of 9:00.95. Jonathan Skemp (9:05.26) and Trevor Hayes (9:09.22) followed closely behind in fourth and fifth place, respectively.  
 
Nathan Kent continued to rewrite the record books when he won the 400-meter race for the third-straight season with a time of 46.14. His effort set a Patriot League Championship and Ingram Field record. Conor McFadden ran a personal-best time of 46.95 to take silver in the race. Simon Alexander left it all on the line with a career-best 47.106 for fourth place. He just missed the bronze medal when Army's McGinnis edged him out at 47.101.  
 
Navy dominated the 400-meter hurdles with a 1-2 finish led by David Walker's season-best time of 52.17 to win his first career gold medal in the event. Ayden Henley followed in second place with a season-best time of 52.66.  
 
Justin Mumford won his second championship of the weekend after securing the top 5,000-meter time of 14:33.15. Dane Eike reached the podium with a third-place time of 14:35.37, Logan Flament finished close behind in fourth at 14:36.23 and Jackson Nguyen recorded a season-best time of 14:39.10 to place sixth.  
 
"Justin was unbelievable this weekend, dominating the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races," Cook said. "Coach [Aaron] Lanzel does a fantastic job getting those guys [distance runners] prepared for meets like this."
 
The 4x100-meter relay squad of Marcel Jackson, Keiser, Walker and Tyler Yurich clocked a second-place time of 40.35. Yurich put up a strong effort to chase down Army's Trey McGinnis on the final leg but finished a few strides behind the Black Knights (40.17).     
 
Keiser earned his second medal of the day when he took home gold in the 110-meter hurdles with a come-from-behind time of 13.90 to beat Boston's Micah Perry (13.92). Bobby Wind clocked a fourth-place time of 14.19 and Michael Wilkerson followed in fifth place at 14.57.  
 
"Jason [Keiser] has been consistent all year," Cook remarked. "I'm glad he got the win in the hurdles and he also stepped up and filled in for the 4x100-meter relay. To come in and make an impact and win a championship as a freshman is really impressive."  
 
McFadden continued his strong day by leading the team in the 200-meter sprint with a second-place finish in 20.81. Yurich placed fifth in 21.38 and Kent rounded out the trio in eighth at 27.97.  
 
Matt Newell led the Midshipmen with a third-place podium finish in the 1,500 meters and clocked the sixth-fastest time in Navy history at 3:43.24. Eike (3:46.43) and James Partlow (3:46.62) each recorded career-best times to finish fifth and sixth, respectively.  
 
The 100-meter sprint featured a tight finish among the top four competitors. Yurich (10.42) finished in third place to beat teammate Marcel Jackson (10.48) who claimed fourth. Yurich was bested by the Army pairing of Joshua Duncan (10.37) and Jaxon Hammond (10.41).  
 
In the 800-meter run, Ryan Du Plessis paced the Mids with a sixth-place time of 1:52.33. Aidan Eberhardt followed and clocked in at 1:55.75 for seventh place.  
 
Navy capped the meet on a high note by winning the 4x400-meter relay. The squad of Alexander, Walker, Cooper Wakley and McFadden clocked a 3:10.44 to hold off Boston's 3:10.48.
 
Field Events
Sheldon Ulmer successfully defended his high jump crown by clearing a season-best 2.07 meters (6-09.50). Ulmer became the first Midshipman to win the event in back-to-back seasons since Tyler Russell (2015-16).  
 
Hunter-Robbins Mann finished seventh in the shot put with a throw of 15.85 meters (52-0). Mann also competed in the discus and placed eighth with a toss of 45.55 meters (149-5).  
 
William Pierce continued his championship weekend by placing eighth in the triple jump with a leap of 14.23 meters (46-08.25).
 
Decathlon
Nick Simmons won the decathlon with 7,244 points, with that tally being the sixth-most points scored in school history. Simmons shined on the second day as he won three of the five events. He began by winning the discus where he tossed a career-best 45.80 meters (150-3). He later won the javelin with a mark of 51.74 meters (169-9) and sealed the victory by taking first in the 1,500 meters in 4:38.28.  
 
"It's been a great breakout season for Nick [Simmons]," Cook said. "I think he has been fantastic and coach [Chris] Johnson has done a fantastic job with him and all of the multi-athletes."  
 
Jamison Scott had a career-best performance in the decathlon and finished second with 7,244 points for the ninth-most in Navy history. He opened the day by winning the 110-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.56.
 
Patriot League Outdoor Championship Final Team Scores
1. Navy (298 points)
2. Army (199.5 points)
3. Bucknell (99.5 points)
4. Boston (77 points)
5. Lafayette (50 points)
6. Holy Cross (49 points)
7. Lehigh (44 points)
8. American (32 points)
9. Colgate (8 points)
 
Navy continues its postseason run May 27-29 when it travels to Lexington, Kentucky, to compete in the NCAA First Round.