ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy track & field teams opened its first home meet of the outdoor season in impressive fashion, winning 21 of 38 events on Saturday at the Navy Outdoor Invitational at Ingram Field in Annapolis.
 
"It's good to be back home and get a lot of opportunities for kids to compete," said Navy director of track & field Jamie Cook. "The whole team fed off each other and brought good energy, which led to strong performances. This meet makes for a long day, but you see the camaraderie of the group. They're all out here cheering on one another, which is always good to see. I thought it was a really good day, and we got a lot accomplished with a lot of athletes competing in multiple events."
 
Track Events
Trevor Hayes won Navy's first 3,000-meter steeplechase race of the season with a career-best time of 9:08.26. Jonathan Skemp took second in 9:12.65, followed by Billy Driscoll in third at 9:18.78 and Luke Doetschman in fourth at 9:22.63.
 
Navy completed the steeplechase sweep as Caroline Carter won the women's race in 11:06.72 in her first time competing in the event. Sussanna Henderson finished second in 11:08.70, while Madeline Palmisciano placed fourth in 11:12.01.
 
The 4x100-meter relay team of Marcel Jackson, Nathan Kent, Jonah Johnson and Tyler Yurich won for the third-consecutive meet with a time of 40.25.
 
The Mids added another relay win as the women's 4x100-meter quartet of Caroline Rey, Julienne Warner, Savannah Swanda and Samaria Williams clocked 47.05.
 
Navy went 1-2-3 in the men's 1,500 meters, led by Matt Newell's winning time of 3:54.40, edging Luke Bowlsby (3:54.64), while Ben Marks placed third in 3:56.58. On the women's side, Juliet Frum led a sweep with a time of 4:37.33 and Kate Leddy took third in 4:39.34.
 
Jason Keiser secured his second-straight victory in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing in 14.23. Michael Wilkerson (14.39) placed second, followed by Bobby Wind (14.45) in third.
 
Caroline Rey led Navy in the women's 100-meter hurdles with a second-place time of 14.50, while Bennett Pidro finished fourth in 14.86.
 
Derajah Hardy competed in the 400 meters for the first time this season, placing third in 50.23 to lead Navy. On the women's side, Savannah Swanda also placed third as the Mids' top finisher in 59.11.
 
Navy swept the top three spots in the men's 100 meters, led by Johnson (10.65), followed by Yurich (10.68) and Fabian France (10.77). Warner won the women's race in 12.01, edging Rey (12.03).
 
"Julienne (Warner) and Savannah (Swanda) have improved quite a bit," Cook said. "They're getting work in multiple events and understanding the workload. They did a good job today."
 
The men's 800 meters featured a tight finish as Tate Frost won in 1:53.04, just ahead of Ryan Du Plessis (1:53.08) and Aidan Eberhardt (1:53.26).
 
Reilly Nussbaum led Navy in the women's 800 meters, placing second in 2:11.01, while Julia Blake followed in 2:13.87.
 
Navy continued its dominance in the 400-meter hurdles, taking the top three spots. Ayden Henley won with a season-best 53.81, followed by David Walker (53.87) and Jordan Wolverton (55.06).
 
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, Sara McConnell (1:03.92) and Peighton Marrero (1:04.76) finished first and second, respectively, while Morgan Blackford placed fifth in 1:05.44.
 
Kent captured Navy's 20th event win in the 200 meters with a time of 21.06. He was joined by Conor McFadden (21.43) in third and Keiser (21.49) in fourth. Samaria Williams led the women with a third-place time of 25.32.
 
James McCarron led Navy in the men's 5,000 meters with a second-place time of 15:14.09, while Catalina Simon placed second in the women's race in 17:15.28.
 
The 4x400-meter relay capped the meet. The men's team of Ryan Du Plessis, Matthew Quispe, Caleb Price and Justin Hom finished second in 3:22.16, just behind Columbia (3:22.03).
 
Field Events
Cooper Hydock led Navy in the men's hammer throw with a career-best mark of 55.49 meters (182-0) to place third, while Aaron Spears finished fourth at 55.00 meters (180-5). On the women's side, Nalina Smith led the team with a throw of 53.20 meters (174-6).
 
Nigel Vidale led a trio of Midshipmen in the high jump, winning with a height of 1.90 meters (6-02.75). Harrison Crofts placed second at 1.80 meters (5-10.75), while Charles Skaggs tied for third at the same height, with Crofts earning the higher placement on fewer attempts.
 
Sarah Spahr led the women's high jump with a height of 1.62 meters (5-03.75), tying for the top mark but placing based on attempts.
 
Elisa Ramos and Aurora Cieslukowski shared first place in the pole vault with a season-best 3.76 meters (12-4). Olivia Baird tied for fifth at 3.61 meters (11-10).
 
William Pierce won the long jump with a mark of 6.96 meters (22-10). Wolverton (6.81 meters / 22-04.25), Colby Fahrney (6.74 meters / 22-01.50) and Jamison Scott (6.72 meters / 22-0.75) placed second, fourth and fifth, respectively. On the women's side, Pidro placed second with a mark of 5.55 meters (18-02.50), followed by ChiChi Obasi (5.36 meters / 17-7) in third and Melissa Emessiene (5.28 meters / 17-4) in fifth.
 
Kyle Ashley led Navy in the javelin with a winning throw of 60.90 meters (199-10). Lucas Hayes placed second at 55.09 meters (180-9), followed by Nick Simmons (52.91 meters / 173-7) in third and Ethan DeLaurier (51.72 meters / 169-8) in fourth.
 
Olivia Baird won the women's javelin with a throw of 42.42 meters (139-2), while Carley Bannerman placed fifth at 39.58 meters (129-10).
 
Hunter-Robbins Mann led Navy in the shot put with a mark of 15.29 meters (50-2). Gretchen Hurt won the women's event at 13.92 meters (45-8), followed by Julia Norris (13.66 meters / 44-09.75) in second and Nalina Smith (12.64 meters / 41-05.75) in fourth.
 
Brian Schloeder won the pole vault with a height of 5.12 meters (16-09.50).
 
Mason Gibbons won the triple jump at 13.57 meters (44-06.25), while Brooke Lobban took the women's title at 11.13 meters (36-06.25).
 
Mann placed fourth in the discus with a mark of 46.33 meters (152-0), followed by Adam Szatanek in fifth at 45.52 meters (149-4). In the women's discus, Norris (45.52 meters / 149-4) and Smith (41.77 meters / 137-0) placed second and third, respectively.
 
Navy at Raleigh Relays
Before Saturday's meet, a small group of distance runners competed at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, North Carolina. In the men's 10,000 meters, Jackson Nguyen placed 34th in 29:35.34, followed by Logan Flament in 47th (29:48.57).
 
On the women's side, Sophie Compton finished 55th in the 5,000 meters in 16:44.73, while team captain Mia-Claire Kezal placed 65th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11:24.84.
 
Navy returns to action next Saturday at the Sam Howell Invitational at Weaver Stadium in Princeton, N.J., its final tune-up before the Army-Navy Outdoor Star Meet on April 11 in West Point.