PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Navy track and field teams posted several personal- and season-best performances Friday at the Penn Invitational in Philadelphia at the Ott Center. The Mids turned in strong showings in the middle- and distance events, along with solid efforts in the jumps and throws.

"The team traveled to Penn for the second week in a row and we left with another solid outing," Navy associate head coach Chris Campbell said. "Some athletes used this meet as a tune-up for Army, while others got a chance to compete on the road against very good competition."

Track Events

In the mile, Paige Sheiffele recorded a career-best time of 5:03.56 to place sixth. Eleanor Whisler also turned in a personal record, finishing ninth in 5:10.45.

Logan Howe placed seventh in the 60-meter hurdles, qualifying for the finals with a preliminary time of 8.44 before matching the position in the final with a season-best 8.37.

Caroline Carter clocked a career-best 2:17.05 in the 800 meters to finish second in her heat and seventh overall. Nick Hamby led the men's squad in the event, placing eighth in 1:53.05.

Navy was well represented in the women's 3,000 meters, led by Amelie Loomis' career-best time of 10:08.37 to place third. Susanna Henderson followed in fourth at 10:18.93, while Caroline Montemaro (10:19.74) and Natalie Wang (10:30.73) finished fifth and seventh, respectively.

On the men's side, Zack Poekert paced the Mids in the 3,000 meters, crossing the line fifth with a career-best time of 8:16.00.

Field Events

Elisa Ramos led the field events with a second-place finish in the pole vault, clearing a season-best 3.77 meters (12 feet, 4 1/2 inches). Ailish Ocasek added a season-best clearance of 3.47 meters (11-4 1/2) to tie for seventh with teammate Gabrielle Bernhard. 

Nigel Vidal placed fifth in the high jump with a season-best mark of 1.96 meters (6-5), clearing the height on his third attempt. Jace Walls of Rider, Griffin Gammon of Penn and Robert Ruffini of Princeton also cleared 1.96 meters, tying for second based on fewer attempts. Harrison Crofts added a sixth-place finish at 1.91 meters (6-03.25).

Sara McConnell tied for sixth in the women's high jump, clearing 1.58 meters (5-02.25) alongside Yale's Layni Kaase and Penelope Webb.

Jamison Scott continued the success in the jumps, placing fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 6.73 meters (22-1). Scott also finished fifth in the long jump at the same distance.

In the women's throws, Nalina Smith opened the day with a sixth-place finish in the weight throw at 15.70 meters (51-06.25), followed by Gretchen Hurt's personal-best toss of 15.40 meters (50-01.25) to place seventh.

Julia Norris led the shot put with a fourth-place finish and a personal-best mark of 13.71 meters (44-11.75). Hurt capped her day with a season-best throw of 13.17 meters (43-02.50) to finish seventh.

"We came to compete and held our own against some stiff competition and we're looking forward to the Army-Navy meet next Saturday," Campbell said.

The Black Knights will travel to Annapolis on Feb. 7 for the annual Army-Navy Star Meet at the Wesley A. Brown Field House.