Track and field battles for the Obelisk

The+track+and+field+teams+fell+to+Carnegie+Mellon+University+at+the+11th-annual+Battle+for+the+Obelisk.+Spartan+highlights+include+two+first+place+titles+and+meet+records+by+graduate+student+Cassandra+Laios.+

The track and field teams fell to Carnegie Mellon University at the 11th-annual Battle for the Obelisk. Spartan highlights include two first place titles and meet records by graduate student Cassandra Laios.

Claire Nordt, Sports Editor

The Case Western Reserve University men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the 11th Annual Battle for the Obelisk last weekend. Together, the teams earned 115 team points, but that was not enough to secure a win against University Athletic Association opponents Carnegie Mellon University, whose teams combined for 157 points.

Graduate student Cassandra Laios earned titles in both the weight throw and shot put. For weight throw, Laios scored a mark of 17.08 meters, which set a new meet record, surpassing her previous meet record of 16.78 meters. Laios also set a new meet record with her shot put mark of 13.70 meters. The previous record of 13.35 had been set by Laios last season.

In addition to Laios, third-year Spartans Madeline Lindemann and Samantha Kelts also placed first in their events. Lindemann competed in the 3000-meter run, crossing the finish line at 10:35.18. Kelts was able to take first in the triple jump after jumping a distance of 10.63 meters. The women’s distance medley relay team also claimed the first place title. The team consisted of fourth-year Spartan Isabel Torres-Padin, third-year runners Vanessa Pasadyn and Shahed Eid and second-year runner Maria King.

For the men’s team, third-year hurdler Dominic Oddo, third-year runner Jonathan Haling and third-year thrower Brian Holden all earned first place titles. Oddo took the 60-meter hurdles in 8.67, Haling conquered the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.91 and Holden threw 13.90 meters to win the weight throw. The men’s 4×400-meter relay team also had a first place finish. Third-year Spartan Michael Hradesky and first-year teammate Logan Singer teamed up with Oddo and Haling to complete the race in 3:31.24.

The Spartans will next compete at the Joe Banks Invitational on Feb. 2 at Ohio Northern University.