ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy track and field team opened up competition in the 2024-25 season, hosting the annual Navy Invitational I on Saturday at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis, Md.

As a team, the Mids won 11 of the 32 events in a field that included James Madison, Johns Hopkins, Maryland, Mount St. Mary's, William & Mary and UMES.

"It was a good first meet, we got a lot of new athletes getting their feet wet. The energy was good, everybody was excited to compete," said director of track and field Jamie Cook. "Just seeing the competitiveness and leadership that was displayed today, was good to see. It was a good day."

The invitational opened with Maxwell Rubin and Keyshawn Dolford finishing 1-2 in the weight throw. Rubin won his first collegiate event with a career-best mark of 16.30m (53' 5.75"). Dolford followed with a career-best mark of 16.01m (52' 6.5").

Dolford was the top finisher in the shot put, winning the event with a career-best mark of 15.09m (49' 6.25"). Benjemen Schneider won the high jump with a distance of 2.06m (6' 9").

Gunnar Kimball rounded out the field portion of the invitational by winning his first collegiate event with a pole vault mark of 5.05m (16' 6.75").

Jia Anderson began her junior campaign by tying the fourth-best (8.47) 60m hurdle time in Navy history to finish second in the event. The Wilmington, Del., native now owns eight of the 10 fastest 60m hurdles time in program history.

"Jia [Anderson] trains hard as expected. She has taken more of a leadership role this year and I think that's even more impressive than what she does on the track. It was a good day for Jia," said Cook.

The Midshipmen excelled in the 800m on the men side as they posted the top six times in the event. Sophomore Nick Hamby placed the team with a 1:53.69, while Matthew Quispe followed with a 1:56.98, Anthony Engle registered a time of 1:58.34, Mason Wokoma took fourth with a 1:58.85, Aidan Kearns cracked the two-minute mark of 1:59.41 and Cooper Branch rounded out the group with a 2:00.45.

Freshmen Jane Phillips and Marianna Pizem had an impressive showing in their collegiate debut. Phillips won the mile with a time of 5:06.78, three seconds ahead of the runner-up. Pizem won the 800m event with a time of 2:15.63, Phillips followed with a third-place finish running a 2:17.48, adding to her big start to the season.

Men's team captain Jacques Guillaume clocked a 400m time of 47.82 to take first place in the event. Fellow senior Pete deJonge placed third in the 400m as he clocked a 49.47.

Women's team captain Taylor Woodworth started her final season on a strong note, winning the 400m event with a time of 55.43 in the top heat.

The men's team continued their dominant outing going 1-2-3 in the 1,000m. William Gravitt placed atop of the field with a time of 2:27.96. Aidan Eberhardt followed two seconds later (2:29.23) and Justin Hom rounded out the trio as he finished at 2:32.06.

The 4x400m relay capped off the invitational with the men's team of deJonge, Simon Alexander, David Walker and Guillaume won the event in commanding fashion of 3:15.50, seven seconds faster from the second-place grouping.

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