The Case Western Reserve University men's cross country team, ranked 34^th in Division III, opened its 2022 season on Friday afternoon by hosting the annual Bill Sudeck Classic at Squire Valleevue Farm in Hunting Valley, Ohio. In an early season test, the Spartans fell to third-ranked John Carroll University 20-39 in the dual meet.

Sophomore Aidan Nathan was the Spartans' top finisher in the 6K race, crossing the finish line third overall in a time of 19:19.0. Junior Stephen Henry placed seventh overall with a mark of 20:01.0 and was followed closely in eighth place by sophomore Nate Gilbert with a time of 20:01.2. Rounding out top five for CWRU were sophomore Hans Holst in 11^th-place with a time of 20:09.6 and senior Spencer Weigand in 12^th-place with a time of 20:10.8.

Completing the Spartans' top seven were graduate student Anthony Hart (13^th, 20:14.4) and first-year Danny Becker (17^th, 20:39.2). Also competing for CWRU in the season-opening meet were first-year Ben Smith (18^th 20:46.7), senior Jacob Conard (19^th, 20:49.7), first-year Solomon Greene (20^th, 20:53.8), first-year Nathan Webb (21^st, 21:01.7), sophomore Donald Folk (23^rd, 21:48.6), senior Ben Browngardt (24^th, 21:55.9), sophomore Victor Nash (25^th, 22:01.2), and graduate student Rahul Mikkilineni (27^th, 23:38.0).

John Carroll's Barrett Scheatzle won the race with a time of 19:04.6.

The Sudeck Classic is run in 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 be off from competition next weekend, before returning to action on Friday, September 16 at the All-Ohio Twilight Meet in Cedarville, Ohio.