BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Led by senior team captain Sophie Compton, the Navy women's cross country team concluded competition in the Women's College Gold 6K at the 2025 Paul Short Run at the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course on the campus of Lehigh University. For the second time in as many races, Compton was the top individual finisher for the Midshipmen clocking a time of 20:48.1 to finish 47th overall amongst the 338 runners who finished the race.
 
As a team, Navy finished in 21st among the 40 teams that competed with 632 total points, coming in ahead of fellow Patriot League opponents Lehigh (25th – 694 points) and Boston U. (26th – 695). Villanova recorded a team-low 110 points to finish first ahead of #15 Penn State (115) and #20 Georgetown (143). Texas A&M and Utah State rounded out the top five with 172 and 214 points, respectively. UConn (241), Bowling Green (246), Penn (282), (RV) Harvard (297), and Elon (317) closed out the top 10.
 
"We had some good individual performances today, but it was a tough day as the team underperformed," head coach Kim Lewnes said after the race. "We are going to turn this underwhelming team performance into an opportunity. The sting of a shortfall can be an incredible motivator. We will bounce back and have laser focus on our training to achieve our goals."
 
Compton was the Mids' top finisher, taking 47th among the 338 runners. The senior team captain clocked a time of 20:48.3, shaving nearly 20 seconds (19.1) off of her season-best 6K performance a week ago at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo.
 
Senior Kate Leddy was second among the Midshipmen runners, finishing with a time of 21:28.4, while freshman Catalina Simon followed with a performance of 21:33.7. Sophomore Jane Phillips and junior Susannah Heinz rounded out Navy's top five in the event. Phillips crossed the finish line with a time of 21:37.3 with Heinz notching a 21:47.1.
 
"Sophie got out well and moved up throughout the race," remarked Lewnes. "Kate, Catalina, Jane, and Susie are improving each week and we will need them to continue to step it up."
 
Senior Mia-Claire Kezal (21:51.7) and sophomore Madeline Palmisciano (22:02.9) closed out the Midshipmen's seven counters. Sophomore Paige Sheiffele (22:08.0), junior Susanna Henderson (22:12.4), and freshman Juliet Frum (22:31.7) also competed in the Women's College Gold 6K race.
 
In the women's open 6K, senior Samantha Woodworth led a group of 11 Navy student-athletes with a time of 21:50.6 to finish 23rd among the 442 runners who finished the race. Stella Perazzini was second among Midshipmen with a time of 22:22.9, while twin sisters Lorraine Goldenberg and Constance Goldenberg finished back-to-back with times of 22:24.9 and 22:25.2, in order. Eleanor Whisler closed out Navy's top five in the race with a time of 22:38.0 to finish just in ahead of Marianna Pizem who clocked a 22:40.0. Amelie Loomis (22:52.0), Cadence Keese (22:54.4), Sarah Colebrooke (22:55.3), Ava Ostrowski (22:55.8), and Caroline Montemaro (23:17.4) also competed in the open 6K.
 
Up next, the Midshipmen return to action on Saturday, Oct. 18 as the Mids head to West Point, N.Y. for the annual Star Meet, which is part of the overall Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA. The women are set for 10:15 a.m., while the men are slated for 11:15 a.m. Live results will be available.
 
"We've raced hard two weeks in a row, against a lot of great national competition, in very crowded fields," Lewnes added. "Next up is Army, which will be a much more focused approach in the dual meet."