After concluding the 2025 season in November, the Case Western Reserve University women’s cross country team honored its six graduating seniors. Over the past four years, this class has brought leadership, perseverance and character to CWRU’s storied cross country program, leaving it stronger than they found it and positioned for continued success.
Lauren Iagnemma
Since arriving on campus as a first-year, fourth-year co-captain and distance runner, Lauren Iagnemma, has steadily built one of the most decorated careers in CWRU women’s cross country history.
Her final season as a Spartan was marked by consistency and leadership. She competed in three races during the 2025 season, opening the year as the second overall finisher at the Sudeck Invitational. She posted a season-best 8K time of 23:24.2 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship, placing 54th overall and sixth among Spartan runners, and capped the season ranked 992nd out of 4,584 Division III runners in the Cross Country Ratings Index (XCRI). She also earned UAA Fall All-Academic honors, adding to an already impressive resume.
Her second-year and third-year seasons firmly established her as one of the top runners in Division III. She earned All-America honors in back-to-back years, placing 36th at the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship and an outstanding 18th at the 2023 national meet, the third-highest finish ever by a Spartan. In 2023, she recorded a career-best 6K time of 20:43.9 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, finishing second overall and earning her first All-Region honor. That performance also earned her UAA Athlete of the Week, making her the first Spartan women’s runner to receive the honor since 2015.
Despite her impressive career, for Iagnemma, success has always been about more than times and placements.
“If I were to boil it down to one word I think it would be ‘gritty’,” Iagnemma said. “Through the years I’ve dealt with injuries, managing personal expectations, and coming to terms with the reality that progress isn’t linear. And yet, as with all D3 athletes, I’m in this sport because I love it. I keep running, keep training, because it is something that I value, because my teammates are incredible people and this team and program are something I want to give to.”
Off the course, she has balanced varsity athletics with a demanding academic load as a double major in psychology and Spanish. She credits organization and creativity with helping her manage it all.
“I’ve managed to balance it all by making time to do creative things, and also trying to stay super duper organized,” Iagnemma said. “I have a paper calendar that I live by where I write everything down.”
One of those creative outlets has been her involvement with IMPROVment, CWRU’s improv comedy troupe, where she serves as vice president. Since auditioning as a first-year, she has practiced and performed with the group weekly, calling the experience both therapeutic and grounding amid the demands of college athletics.
Serving as a team captain has been one of the most meaningful parts of her career. She has embraced the role as an opportunity to uplift her teammates and help shape the team culture.
“I try to tell my girls as much as possible how proud I am of them, but more importantly, how proud they should be of themselves,” Iagnemma said. “Watching this team pour their heart into miles and miles of training is really something special to behold, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help influence and lead them.”
As she reflects on four years with the program, she points to the shared experience of growing alongside her fellow fourth-years as one of the most rewarding aspects of her time at CWRU.
“We’ve all had such different times in the program, dealing with different injuries, different ups and downs in the sport, but at the end of the day, we have gone through it all together and formed friendships that mean we are there for each other through all of the difficulties of the program, and there to celebrate all of the good as well,” Iagnemma said.
With graduation approaching, she admits the transition away from collegiate cross country is bittersweet. After graduation, she plans to take a gap year before pursuing graduate school.
“I feel like I spent a lot of college telling myself I had time left, and now I can’t believe that it’s almost over,” Iagnemma said. “I’m so glad I got the chance to be competitive with this school and to run with my teammates, but I’m also excited for the next chapter of running in my life and to see what it’s like and where it takes me.”
Julia Hluck
For fourth-year co-captain Julia Hluck, the cross country journey at CWRU has been defined not by a single moment, but by steady growth, resilience and a deep commitment to both her team and her academic goals. From navigating the transition to college athletics as a first-year to becoming a trusted leader within the program, her four years with the Spartans have been marked by perseverance and purpose.
During her senior season, she competed in one race before an injury cut her year short, placing 56th at the Pre-National Meet and ninth among Spartan runners with a time of 24:38.5. She finished the year ranked 1,133rd among 4,584 Division III runners in the XCRI and earned UAA Fall All-Academic honors.
Her third year marked a breakthrough, as she competed in six races and finished among the team’s top five in all but one. She recorded her fastest 6K of the season at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational, placing 17th overall and second among CWRU runners, and served as the team’s fourth finisher at both the UAA Championship and NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
During her second-year, Hluck competed in seven races, scoring for the Spartans at the Mike Woods Invitational and running a career-best 6K time of 23:02.1 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, earning UAA All-Academic honors once again.
“I started running seriously in high school,” Hluck said. “I just loved it so much that I wanted to see if I could continue it in college.”
Her path to CWRU was unconventional. She did not go through the traditional recruiting process or communicate with the coaching staff prior to applying. Instead, after being admitted, she reached out to explore whether competing was an option, and she found a home within the program.
Balancing the demands of varsity athletics as a biochemistry major, along with minors in chemistry and communication for health professionals, has been no small feat. She credits careful time management, self-care and discipline for helping her succeed.
“It is definitely challenging at times, especially the 6 [a.m.] practices and weekend meets,” Hluck said. “I have learned to maximize my time to get my work done and try my best to get to bed early and maintain self-care to be the best student and athlete I can be.”
Outside of cross country, she has been heavily involved in research, joining a lab at the end of her second year. What began as a major requirement quickly became a passion, offering hands-on experience that aligns closely with her long-term goals in medicine.
“I am very passionate about cancer biology, which is my concentration, and learning how diseases happen, as I hope to be a doctor one day,” Hluck said. “I have been able to gain a ton of experience, and I hope to carry those skills with me in my future.”
Serving as a team captain during her senior season allowed her to give back to the program that supported her through her own early struggles.
“I remember being a freshman and how much the captains helped me feel welcome and normal for struggling with the adjustment,” Hluck said. “So I wanted to be that role model for the incoming freshman.”
While her final season was cut short due to injury, she embraced a new role from the sidelines, supporting her teammates and celebrating their successes. As she prepares to graduate, she plans to take a few gap years, work in a Cleveland-area hospital and eventually apply to medical school. Reflecting on her time with the program, she is most grateful for the relationships formed along the way.
“It has been an amazing experience, I have found some of my best friends here and I hope to carry those friendships with me for the rest of my life,” Hluck said. “It is crazy to think it has already been four years, but I am glad to have grown with these people.”
Arianna Holbrook
For fourth-year Arianna Holbrook, the last four years with CWRU have been defined by growth, commitment and a deep sense of belonging. What began as an unconventional introduction to the program evolved into a career marked by steady improvement, competitive confidence and an unwavering dedication to her teammates.
Her senior season reflected the consistency she had built over time. Competing in five races, she was the Spartans’ third finisher in every meet and opened the year with a third-place finish at the Sudeck Invitational. She delivered strong performances at both the UAA Championship and NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship. She ended the year ranked 658th among 4,584 Division III runners in the XCRI.
Her path to CWRU was anything but traditional. During a campus visit in spring 2022, a chance encounter at DiSanto Field led to an impromptu phone call with Head Coach Kathy Nortz Yohann, and ultimately to a commitment fueled by both a full merit scholarship and the opportunity to continue running at the collegiate level.
“I definitely came into Case a bit unsure if I planned to stay all four years, but joining the team completely changed that,” Holbrook said. “I found my family here. Being part of this program taught me to love the sport on an entirely different level.”
Over time, her relationship with the sport evolved beyond personal goals.
“I quickly fell in love with the thrill of competing, with pushing myself farther than I ever believed I could, and with discovering what happens when you truly commit to working hard towards your passion,” Holbrook said. “I learned what it feels like to run not only for myself, but for my teammates, to want to make them proud as much as I wanted to make myself proud.”
Pursuing a biochemistry degree with a cancer biology concentration while following a pre-med track, Holbrook was forced to balance varsity athletics with a demanding academic path. Outside of cross country, she immersed herself in research and service, including laboratory research at CWRU, a research fellowship at the University of Chicago, volunteer work at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and leadership roles advocating for student-athlete wellbeing through CWRU Association for Student Athletes (CASA) and the CWRU chapter of The Hidden Opponent.
As she reflects on growing alongside her fellow fourth-years, she emphasizes the shared experience that bonded the class together.
“It’s hard to imagine not waking up at 5:30 [a.m.] every morning for practice with my best friends, not being part of that competitive adrenaline, and not having running be such a defining part of my daily life,” Holbrook said. “I think I’ll grow nostalgic for the practices, the races, and happy, funny moments with the team, but I’m grateful for the lessons and memories that will stay with me.”
After graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in precision health at the University of Chicago while working part-time as an EMT, with medical school on the horizon. She also hopes to continue running competitively through a run club as she begins the next chapter of her journey.
The Class of 2026
Joining Iagnemma, Hluck and Holbrook in graduation are fellow fourth-years Medha Patria, Ayla Grabenbauer and Anna Avila. This group has helped define the culture of CWRU cross country, leading by example while fostering strong bonds and development throughout the program. Although the Spartans wrapped up their cross country season in November, Iagnemma, Hluck, Holbrook and Grabenbauer will continue competing for one more season with CWRU Track and Field.