U.S. Army marathoners to pass through New Hope, Lambertville bearing football for Army-Navy Game

Marathon team members from the United States Military and Naval academies begin a nonstop running relay next week from their bases in West Point, New York, and Annapolis, Maryland, bearing footballs to be used in the Dec. 8 Army-Navy Game in Philadelphia.

And one of those running teams — representing the Army Black Knights — will pass through Lambertville, New Hope and Solebury on Friday, Dec. 7, on their 157-mile journey from West Point to Philadelphia.

“We will be running by on Route 202 that morning,” explained Cadet Captain Dan Whitfield, the Public Affairs Officer for Army Marathon Team. “We will be moving southwest from Ringoes, and expect to cross over the New Hope-Lamberville Toll Bridge at approximately 9:15 a.m.”

The runners will be escorted by members of the Pennsylvania State Police.

The 119th Army-Navy Football Game will be held in Philadelphia the next day, Saturday, Dec. 8, where the Army runners will present the game ball to kick off the football game.

“The Ball Run is our way as the Marathon Team to support the historic rivalry of the Army-Navy game,” said Whitfield. “It is the one time of the year when the whole Army and Navy rallies around their teams for some healthy competition. It is also unique because every player, whether from West Point or the Naval Academy, will go on to be a military officer, and has committed to five years of military service. Our team is also made of cadets who have committed to this service. Instead of playing football, however, we run marathons.”

The Army–Navy game is one of the most traditional and enduring rivalries in college football, and has been nationally televised each year since 1945, according to Wikipedia. Army and Navy first met on the field on Nov. 29, 1890. The game airs live on CBS on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 3. p.m., from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.