ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy women's cross country team posted a third-place finish on Saturday morning at the Cantello Invitational at the USNA Cross Country Course in Annapolis, Md. Senior Katelyn Pepin and junior Samantha Woodworth led the Midshipmen in the 6K race, crossing the finish line in 13th and 14th, respectively, among the 78 runners who finished the race.
 
Led by individual medalist Lucy Jenks (21:11.9), Georgetown finished 1-2-3 in the individual standings to finish first as a team with a low score of 37. George Washington was second with a combined tally of 55, while the Midshipmen finished with 96 points to take third. Davis & Elkins (108 points) and UMBC (116) rounded out the top five with Catholic (172), Millersville (181), Hampton (197), Frostburg State (228), and Stevenson (276) closing out the team scoring.
 
Pepin crossed the finish with a time of 23:11.4, while Woodworth was a step behind with a time of 23:13.3. The duo were 20th and 21st just before the midway point of the race, but were able to each improve seven spots in the final stages of the 6K race.
 
Competing in her first collegiate cross country meet, senior May McConkey finished third amongst the Midshipmen and 19th overall with a time of 23:23.0. Sophomore Lexi Ensor clocked a time of 23:30.4 to take 21st, while freshman Julia Blake rounded out the top five for the Mids with a time of 24:03.5 to close out the meet in 29th.
 
"Our leaders today ran a controlled race from the start as they prepared for the hilly finish of our course," head coach Kim Lewnes remarked after the meet. "It's really exciting to watch the development of Pepin, Woodworth, McConkey and Ensor over the last few months. They worked really well together and looked strong through the finish. Julia Blake rounded out our top five and although the hills really challenged her in the final 1K. It was another solid performance for her at the start of plebe year."
 
"I've been holding some of our top returners out as they prepare for competitions later in the fall," Lewnes continued. "I'm looking forward to it getting the squad all together next weekend at Penn State."
 
Senior Charlotte Hill (24:12.4) and sophomore Susanna Henderson (24:16.0) were the final counters for the Midshipmen, coming in 30th and 32nd, respectively. Freshman Hailey Hodson (24:17.2), sophomore Sarah Colebrooke (24:19.7), junior Charlene Huang (25:02.1), and sophomore Natalie Jack (25:13.9) also competed in the collegiate 6K.
 
Sophomore Milana Breuninger was the Midshipmen's top finisher in the Open 5K competition, clocking a team-best time of 20:50.8 to finish eighth overall. Two spots back was fellow sophomore Ava Ostrowski who crossed the line with a time of 20:57.8 to come in 10th. Freshmen Amelie Loomis (21:03.4), Elly Fox (21:51.7), and Stella Perazzini (22:34.0) finished the 5K race in 11th, 13th, and 15th.
 
Up next, Navy will head to University Park, Pa. for the annual Spiked Shoe Invitational hosted by Penn State. Competition is slated to begin at the Spiked Shoe with the women's collegiate 6K race at 10:00 a.m. with the men's college 5.2-mile run to follow at 10:45 a.m. Live results will be available via PTtiming.