Brussels grad Pierce now owns Naval Academy’s top leap

U.S. Naval Academy athlete and Brussels graduate William Pierce leaps during the long jump at the Penn Elite meet on Jan. 24, 2026, at the Jane and David Ott Center in Philadelphia. (Connor Ramones/Special to Stripes)

U.S. Naval Academy athlete William Pierce can tell in the run-up whether he’s going to soar in the long jump.

That was the case during last month’s Patriot League Outdoor Track and Field Championships. At his home track in Annapolis, Md., the Brussels High School alumnus sized up the runway and as he approached the pit, the junior said all he needed was to hit the board.

Pierce launched himself into history. He leapt 7.67 meters, or 25 feet, 2 inches, to win the Patriot League title. That mark also broke a 53-year-old Navy record of 7.62 meters, or 25-0.25, set by James Campbell.

“I was running up, I felt the speed I was carrying, I felt the power as I pushed into the board, and as I got into the air, I was like, ‘Wow, this is going to be a big one,’” Pierce said. “We had a board that went up to 25 feet, and I saw my jump was past that last board. So, I was definitely stoked.”

Breaking the Midshipmen record was a major goal for Pierce.

Pierce told assistant coach Sheldon Hutchinson, who works mostly with triple and long jumpers, that he was going to do it from the first day.

That night, Pierce got to celebrate at the Ring Dance, a Naval Academy tradition when the juniors receive their class rings. That made the moment even more special to him.

“To some extent, I was speaking it into existence. To the other extent, ever since I got here, I knew the direction I wanted to go,” Pierce said. “I didn’t know how long it was going to take me, but I knew which way or what I was going to achieve.”

Not that it’s been all sunshine for Pierce in Annapolis.

The 2022-2023 DODEA European Athlete of the Year chose to attend the academy without visiting the campus. He admitted he underestimated the challenge of balancing everything and had a rough time around finals of his first semester at the academy.

After he got his feet under him in his sophomore year, Pierce faced one of his toughest challenges yet: a tendon issue in his right foot that washed most of his outdoor track season.

It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

When he returned to competition during the indoor season in December, the groundwork had been laid for his record-breaking junior campaign.

“If anything, my injury made me a better athlete because it made me more aware of what my body feels and how to take care of it,” Pierce said. “It made me realize how important recovery is and also just communicating with my coaches on how my body is feeling and going from there.”

After winning the Patriot League crown, the son of Scott – a Marine Corps veteran – and Becce Pierce made it to the NCAA East First Round, the beginning step toward Pierce’s other major goal: qualifying for the national meet.

Unfortunately for Pierce, he didn’t advance, with a 25th-place finish on a jump of 7.40 meters or 24-3.5. But Pierce said his first jump would have been enough to move if he hadn’t faulted. His coaches measured it and said it was 7.75 meters.

“Obviously, it didn’t go quite the way we wanted to,” Pierce said. “Some people really popped out, and honestly, I’m just looking forward to getting the chance to do it again next year and going all the way.”

He’s still got at least one year of eligibility left in the outdoor season. He could seek a medical redshirt for his sophomore season.

Pierce said he’s not far away from making the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., and will be shooting to do so in 2027. He will be doing some fine-tuning to make it happen.

“At this point, it’s just minor adjustments,” Pierce said. “My coach and I know what works well and what doesn’t work well. We’ve found that sweet spot, and from there, we plan on progressing.”

He also must decide on his military future.

In the fall, Pierce must give his preference for service and community after graduating from the academy. He said his two choices are between the Marines and the Navy, with a desire to fly either F-18s or F-35s.