Case Western Reserve University junior Ashley Novak placed first out of 25 runners on Friday afternoon to win the women's 4K race at the Sudeck Invitational in Hunting Valley, Ohio at the University Farm, but it was not enough to get a win for the Spartans in their first meet of the season, as the squad dropped a 24-36 decision in a head-to-head matchup with John Carroll University.

Despite facing hot and humid conditions, Novak was able to cross the finish line in a time of 15:12.49, just over 12 seconds better than the second-place finish from John Carroll. Junior Lauren Iagnemma added a third-place finish with a time of 15:27.38, but the Blue Streaks would then secure the team win with five straight runners crossing the finish line.

Junior Arianna Holbrook added a ninth-place finish in a time of 15:46.60, while first-years Cecilia Postma (13th, 16:11.68) and Becca Liaw (14th, 16:14.88) also scored for CWRU. First-year Ciara Ledford (16:20.96) and junior Anna Avila (17th, 16:23.27) rounded out the top seven for the Spartans.

Other finishers for the Spartans on Friday included first-year Julia Walko (18th, 16:52.43), senior Mandy Lam (20th, 16:58.47), senior Alyssa Storm (24th, 17:18.67), and sophomore Angie Getz (25th, 17:44.82).

CWRU will be back in action next weekend, traveling to the Grizzly Invitational in Shelbyville, Indiana on Saturday, September 7 for the squad's first 6K race of the season. 

Spartan Notes

• This marked the second-straight Sudeck Invitational that Novak has won the women's 4K. She claimed the win in the race as a first-year student in 2022 (the last time it was run) with a time of 15:19.3.

• Next weekend's race at Blue River Park in Shelbyville will give the Spartans an early peek at the course for the 2024 NCAA Great Lakes Regional.