Strong Start for Navy’s Cross Country Teams
Navy Cross Country
Navy’s men and women’s cross country teams got their 2018 seasons off to a strong start over the Labor Day weekend. The men’s team finished second at the Salisbury Fall Classic, while Grace West won the weather-abbreviated 4,000-meter race at the Bison Open.
Men’s Cross Country
Run on Winter Place Park’s 8k course, the Salisbury Fall Classic on Saturday morning was the first event of the 2018 season. It was also the first competition for Navy’s new head coach, Aaron Lanzel.
Ashwin Briggs, a freshman from Pickerington, OH, had Navy’s best finish, posting a time of 26:16.70. Briggs finished fourth in the field of 80 runners.
“Ashwin ran tough today against some experienced runners at the front of the field,” Coach Lanzel commented after the race. He later added, “All of our runners now know what it takes to be a competitor at Navy!”
Lanzer’s confidence was well-earned. At the end of the day, Navy runners recorded four of the top ten finishes. Mason Reeves (freshman from Ripon, CA), David Nelsen (freshman from Chandler, AZ) and Nick Rischar (freshman from Davie, FL) placed seventh through ninth.
In the team standings, Navy finished second out of the seven teams with 39 points. Rowan won the event with 35 points, while Salisbury took third with 55 points.
Up next for the men’s cross country team is the Penn State Invitational this Friday at University Park, PA.
Women’s Cross Country
The women’s cross country team began their season at the Bison Open last Friday. Hosted by Bucknell University, the event was shortened to 4,000-meters and team scoring eliminated due to weather.
Navy’s Grace West, a junior from Pinehurst, NC, won the race with a time of 14:07.6.
“Grace had a nice win over a dominant Penn team, as well as the five Patriot League teams at the event,” head coach Karen Boyle remarked after the win.
Ten schools competed at the Bison Open. The Navy women claimed eight of the top-40 finishes at the meet. Claire Ostrowski, a junior from Virginia Beach, VA, came in fourth.
Coach Boyle was well-pleased with her team’s efforts. “Having Grace and Claire up front, and a 25-second split between our first and fifth runners give us great optimism for a strong, successful season!”
The Penn State Invitational on Friday is next for the women’s team.
