Navy Women’s Cross Country Cruises to Salisbury Fall Classic Championship
Navy women’s cross country could hardly have asked for a better start to the 2026 season.
The Midshipmen captured the team championship at the Salisbury Fall Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Winter Place Park in Salisbury, Maryland, finishing with just 21 points and placing seven runners among the top 15 overall. Navy freshmen Brianne Duynstee and Emily Downing delivered an impressive introduction to collegiate competition by finishing first and second individually in the women’s 6K. The dominant performance gave Navy an early indication that its young roster could become a major factor as the season progresses.
Navy finished comfortably ahead of runner-up George Mason, which totaled 47 points. Host Salisbury took third with 67 points, followed by Regent University with 125, the University of the District of Columbia with 149 and Maryland Eastern Shore with 161. Navy’s five scoring runners combined for a total time of 1:47:20 and an average of approximately 21:28 over the 6K course.
Duynstee led the way in her first collegiate race, winning the individual championship with a time of 21 minutes, 4.2 seconds. Downing stayed close behind and finished second in 21:10.5, giving Navy a sweep of the first two positions. Salisbury’s Anna Bodmer prevented Navy from taking the first three spots when she finished third in 21:17.5, while George Mason’s Ailbhe Barnes placed fourth in 21:33.8.
The Midshipmen then demonstrated the depth that ultimately separated them from the rest of the field. Senior Caroline Carter finished fifth overall in 21:34.2 while competing in her first cross country event for Navy. Freshmen Lucy Myers and Sam Vanderhave followed in sixth and seventh, recording times of 21:45.3 and 21:46.0, respectively, before junior Amelie Loomis completed Navy’s run of four consecutive finishers by placing eighth in 21:53.9.
That gave Navy six of the first eight finishers in the race, including four freshmen. Regan Schultz added another strong collegiate debut by placing 14th in 22:23.1, completing Navy’s top seven. The result showed that head coach Kim Lewnes already has considerable depth to work with beyond the established runners on the roster.
Navy’s depth continued well beyond its scoring group. Sophomore Lorraine Goldenberg finished 16th in 22:32.7, while freshman Hannah O’Neill was immediately behind her in 17th at 22:38.8. Junior Marianna Pizem finished 19th in 22:48.9 and freshman Kenzie Phillips took 20th with a time of 22:55.9.
Junior Stella Perazzini placed 22nd in 23:07.6, freshman Sofia Bradenburg finished 25th in 23:16.5 and sophomore Caroline Montemaro crossed the line 27th in 23:23.6. Freshman Audrey Dunn completed Navy’s group of competitors by finishing 29th in 23:56.6. Every Midshipmen runner finished within the top half of the field, providing another indication of the program’s overall depth.
Lewnes emphasized discipline and execution following the victory. Navy’s plan was to remain together at a controlled tempo during the opening stages before becoming more aggressive over the final two kilometers. The field began separating earlier than anticipated, but Lewnes credited the Midshipmen with executing the race based on their current fitness levels.
The performances of Navy’s freshmen were particularly encouraging. Duynstee, Downing, Myers and Vanderhave all finished among the first seven runners in their first collegiate races, while Schultz also placed inside the top 15. That immediate production from the plebe class gives Navy additional options as the schedule becomes progressively more challenging.
The result also represented an encouraging opening step following a 2025 season in which Navy finished 12th at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. Jane Phillips and Lexi Ensor earned Second Team All-Patriot League recognition last season, while Sophie Compton was Navy’s leading finisher at the regional championship. Navy entered 2026 looking to combine that established experience with an emerging group of younger runners.
Saturday’s result suggests that transition could happen quickly.
Navy’s 21 points came from finishes of first, second, fifth, sixth and seventh, giving the Midshipmen a 26-point advantage over George Mason. In cross country scoring, where the finishing positions of a team’s first five runners determine its total, that type of concentrated pack near the front makes Navy difficult to beat. The Midshipmen also had Loomis in eighth and Schultz in 14th as their sixth and seventh runners, providing considerable insurance behind the scoring five.
The Salisbury Fall Classic served as the beginning of a schedule that becomes significantly tougher over the coming weeks. Navy returns home Saturday, Sept. 12, for the Cantello Invitational at the USNA Cross Country Course in Annapolis. The Midshipmen will then travel to Terre Haute, Indiana, for the John McNichols Invitational on Sept. 19 before competing in the Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 2.
The annual Army-Navy meet is scheduled for Oct. 17 in Annapolis, followed by the Patriot League Championship on Oct. 31 in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional is scheduled for Nov. 13 at Lehigh, with the NCAA Championship set for Nov. 21 in Terre Haute.
MSB Take
This was about as impressive an opening meet as Navy could have produced. Winning the team championship was important, but the way the Midshipmen won should be even more encouraging for the coaching staff. Navy did not rely on one exceptional performance at the front of the field; it overwhelmed the competition with depth, putting six runners inside the top eight and seven among the top 14.
The freshmen deserve much of the attention. Duynstee and Downing finishing first and second in their collegiate debuts is outstanding, while Myers, Vanderhave and Schultz immediately showed they can contribute to Navy’s lineup. Cross country seasons are ultimately decided in October and November rather than early September, but Navy appears to have discovered several runners capable of playing major roles almost immediately.
There is still a long way to go before the Patriot League Championship and NCAA regional competition, but the foundation is there. If Navy’s freshmen continue developing while its experienced runners round into championship form, the Midshipmen could become a very difficult team to handle later this fall.
Next Meet: Navy hosts the Cantello Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the USNA Cross Country Course in Annapolis.
