The Case Western Reserve University women's cross country team got its 2022 campaign underway on Friday afternoon, as the squad played host to the Bill Sudeck Classic at the Squire Valleevue Farm in Hunting Valley, Ohio. Facing the 18^th-ranked John Carroll University Blue Streaks and Ursuline College, the Spartans picked up a first-place finish out of the three teams at the meet.

The Spartans finished the meet with 28 points, edging out the Blue Streaks, who finished with 31 points. Ursuline finished the meet with 77 points to place third.

Competing in her first collegiate race, first-year Ashley Novak won the 4K race, completing the course in a time of 15:19.3. First-year Ayla Grabenbauer was the second Spartan to cross the line, finishing fourth overall with a time of 15:44.5, and was followed closely by senior Julia Kocherzat, who placed fifth in a time of 15:48.1. First-year Julia Hluck added an eighth-place finish with a time of 15:54.8, and senior Catherine Phillips rounded out the team's top-five scorers with a time of 15:57.3, good for a 10^th-place finish.

Completing the Spartans' top seven runners were junior Sierra Williams (12^th, 16:07.7) and first-year Anna Avila (13^th, 16:09.9). Also in action for CWRU on Friday afternoon were senior Claire Daugherty (20^th, 16:46.3), senior Cecelia Zielke (22^nd, 16:50.9), sophomore Mandy Lam (24^th, 16:55.1), sophomore Medha Patria (25^th, 16:56.8), first-year Libby Mailloux (26^th, 17:12.5), and sophomore Thrisha Bandepallee (28^th, 17:53.1).

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.