SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Navy women's cross country team concluded competition at the Joe Piane Invitational at the Burke Golf Course on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Junior Emily Boutin (Chicopee, Mass.) was the Midshipmen's top finisher, posting a sub-17-minute 5K to highlight the meet for Navy.
 
"It was a great experience to be in such a high caliber race for our squad," head coach Kim Lewnes said after the meet. "Emily Boutin really shined today, breaking 17 minutes."
 
Boutin led the way for the Midshipmen, finishing the event in 39th. She clocked a time of 16:51.0 in the 5K event to pace all Mids.
 
Boutin was followed by Elizabeth Sullivan (Portsmouth, R.I.) who clocked a time of 17:31.5 to finish 92nd overall. Four spots back was freshman Mia Claire Kezal (Saco, Maine) who posted a time of 17:33.6. Ellie Abraham finished in the top 100 (100th) with a time of 17:35.8, while Mckenna Brophy (New Hope, Pa.) and Alanna Julius (Minnetonka, Minn.) crossed the finish line with times of 17:51.4 and 17:51.7, respectively. Carolyn Thurlby (Overland Park, Kan.) rounded out Navy's top 7 finishers with a time of 17:57.7.
 
Sophie Compton (San Diego, Calif.) and Emily Ettrich (Whispering Pines, N.C.) also took part in the 5K. Compton clocked an 18:10.3, while Ettrich finished with an 18:14.8.
 
As a team, Navy finished 18th overall with 431 points. NC State won the event with a combined low-score of 55, while New Mexico and Alabama were second and third with 68 and 70 points, respectively. Meet host Notre Dame tallied 144 points, while Florida State rounded out the top 5 with 176 points.
 
In addition to the team competition, Navy also had a trio runners compete in the open 5K event. Competing in her first race of the year, senior team captain Winter Boese (Clark, Colo.) was the Mids' top finisher in the open 5K with a time of 18:02.4 to finish 22nd overall. Lauren Moore (Danbury, Conn.) and Katherine Leddy (Crofton, Md.) also competed in the open, posting times of 18:24.6 and 18:28.3, correspondingly.
 
Navy returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 15 as the Midshipmen take on rival Army in the annual Army-Navy Star Meet, which is part of the overall Star Series presented by USAA. The meet will be held at the USNA Cross Country Course.
 
 
Team Results
1. NC State – 55 points
2. New Mexico – 68
3. Alabama – 70
4. Notre Dame – 144
5. Florida State – 176
6. Liberty – 188
7. Toledo – 212
8. Boise State – 251
9. Oregon State – 257
10. Bradley – 280
11. San Francisco – 293
12. Penn State – 302
13. Vanderbilt – 362
14. Butler – 379
15. Charlotte – 381
16. Southern Utah – 411
17. Purdue – 425
18. Navy – 431
19. SMU – 519
20. UC Santa Barbara – 533
 
Navy Top 7
39. Emily Boutin – 16:51.0
92. Elizabeth Sullivan – 17:31.5
96. Mia Claire Kezal – 17:33.6
100. Ellie Abraham – 17:35.8
117. Mckenna Brophy – 17:51.4
118. Alanna Julius – 17:51.7
133. Carolyn Thurlby – 17:57.7