Competing for the first time since November 2019, the Case Western Reserve University women's cross country team turned in a strong effort in a close-fought 29-26 loss to 19th-ranked John Carroll University at the Sudeck Classic on Thursday afternoon at the Squire Valleevue Farm in Hunting Valley, Ohio.
Senior Jana Fisher led the Spartans in the 4K race, placing third overall with a time of 15:24.0. She was followed closely by junior Cecelia Zielke in fourth place with a time of 15:33.8 and sophomore Sierra Williams in fifth place with a time of 15:36.3. Rounding out the team's top-five scoring finishers were junior Catherine Phillips in eighth place with a time of 15:51.0 and senior Susanna Henry in ninth place with a time of 15:52.8.
Other finishers for the Spartans included first-year Medha Patria in 14th place with a time of 16:21.9, sophomore Grace Jackson in 15th place with a time of 16:25.8, senior Maddy Nacci in 18th place with a time of 17:02.9, graduate student Elise Epstein in 19th place with a time of 17:02.9 and graduate student Molly Gniady in 21st place with a time of 18:02.8.
John Carroll's Erica Esper was the winner of the race, placing first with a time of 15:16.1.
The Sudeck Classic is run in the honor of the legendary late former CWRU head cross country and track & field coach Bill Sudeck. During his 46-year career at the Case Institute of Technology and Case Western Reserve University, he led his cross country teams to 12 conference titles, leaving behind a legacy of success for the program.
The Spartans will now be off until Friday, September 17, when the team returns to action at the All-Ohio Championships, hosted by Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio.
