SALISBURY, Md. – The Navy men's cross country team opened the 2026 season at the Salisbury Fall Classic on Saturday morning at Winter Place Park. Fourteen Midshipmen – two sophomores and 12 freshmen, competed in the 8K event, posting a team score of 36 to finish second overall.
"A good number of our young runners came to terms with five miles for the first time today," head coach
Aaron Lanzel said. "Many ran their fastest three miles ever in the heat, and then had to find two more miles of focus and effort.
"Expectations were conservative as 12 freshman begin a college career, and there wasn't much to be upset about for what they could achieve today. Jack and Jake got to prove they are ready for breakthroughs this year. They competed well for a full five miles to open up their possibilities."
George Mason's Alex Deroussel (24:51.6) and Tarek Benlamkaddem (24:53.8) finished first and second to help the Patriot win the event with a team-low 19 points.
Sophomore
Jack Hefty was the Midshipmen's top finisher. The Wisconsin native shaved 22 seconds off of his time from a year ago to finish the event in fifth place with a time of 25:11.4. Two spots back, fellow sophomore
Jacob Officer crossed the finish line with a time of 25:31.5 in seventh.
Freshman
Wes Anderson was Navy's top rookie, clocking a time of 25:42.0 to finish in eighth place. Fellow freshmen Carson Fischer (25:46.8),
Sam Wood (25:57.9), and
Liam Beighley (25:58.9) finished in order from 10th to 12th.
Four additional freshmen –
Owen Reece (26:14.6),
Gavin Zais (26:14.7), Myles Wagner (26:20.1), and
Davis Garrett (26:26.3) – took 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th, showcasing the pack-running strategy that Lanzel has emphasized throughout his tenure.
Freshmen
Logan Carlson (22nd – 26:37.9),
Braden Little (23rd – 26:45.7), Clarence Loomis (27th – 27:22.5), and Benjamin Schmidt (30th – 27:44.9) all finished in the top 30 of their first collegiate race.
Navy returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 12, as the Midshipmen take part in the annual Cantello Invitational at the USNA Cross Country Course. The meet opens with an open 5K at 9:00 a.m. before the women's 6K at 9:45 a.m. and the men's 4.9-mile run at 10:30 a.m.
