COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Navy women's cross country team posted a fifth-place finish in the Women's 6K Black race on Friday morning at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo. Senior team captain Sophie Compton finished the race at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course with a time of 21:19.2 in her first competition of the fall to lead all Midshipmen with a 25th-pace finish among the 236 competitors in the field, while junior Lexi Ensor finished in 38th with a time of 21:34.7.
 
"It was a great opportunity to race against national competition," head coach Kim Lewnes said after the race."
 
Stanford won the event with a team-low score of 53. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was second with 142 points with Tulsa five points back with 147. Texas Tech was fourth with 166 points to finish four points ahead of Navy, who rounded out the top five with 170 points.
 
Illinois State (220), Kansas (246), Drake (272), Saint Louis (275), and Southern Indiana (300) completed the top-10 of the event.
 
"As expected, Sophie led the charge," Lewnes added. "However, Lexi might be more of the surprise to some. She made a big jump last year in cross country and I'm excited to see her push her limits again this fall.
 
"Juliet and Catalina executed their race plan together well. It's quite impressive watching these two freshmen come off of Plebe Summer fit, fearless, and ready to compete.
 
"I expect Mia-Claire and Kate to improve upon today in the next couple weeks, but still a solid performance. Paige, Jane, and Susie all have improved since last year and I just love watching their progression."
 
Competing in her first competition of the season, Compton picked up where she left off during her junior season, leading the Midshipmen with a time of 21:19.2 in the 6K event to finish 25th overall.
 
Ensor was second among the Mids, crossing the line with a time of 21:34.7, while Juliet Frum was Navy's top freshman clocking a time of 21:35.9 to finish third on the squad. Fellow freshman Catalina Simon was fourth on the team with a time of 21:51.1. Seniors Mia-Claire Kezal and Kate Leddy followed with times of 22:05.5 and 22:07.4, respectively. Paige Sheiffele rounded out the Mids' top-seven counters with a time of 22:13.9, while Samantha Woodworth (22:47.2) also competed in the race.
 
In the Women's 6K Open race, the Midshipmen had four runners – Jane Phillips, Susannah Heinz, Susanna Henderson, and Madeline Palmisciano – compete. Phillips was the top finisher amongst the Navy runners with a time of 22:19.9 to finish seventh overall. She was followed by Heinz who posted a time of 22:24.1 to finish ninth. Henderson (22:32.1) and Palmisciano (22:42.1) crossed the line in 14th and 18th, respectively, among the 229 individuals in the women's open.
 
Up next, the Midshipmen returns to action on Friday, Oct. 3 at the Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa. Competition for the Mids begins with the men's open race at 9:30 a.m. with the women's open race starting at 10:15 a.m. The men's collegiate race is slated for 11:00 a.m. with the women to follow at 11:45 a.m.