EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field announced that five incoming freshmen have signed national letters of intent to compete for the Screaming Eagles and Head Coach Mike Hillyard during the 2023-24 season.
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The list includes Karli Kitten (Ferdinand, Indiana), Sydney Klinglesmith (Westfield, Indiana), Sara Livingston (Dubois, Indiana), Zoe Seward (Rochester, Indiana) and Ellen White (Columbus, Indiana).
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“On paper, this recruiting class comes in with stronger credentials than last spring’s USI senior class came in with four years ago,” Hillyard said. “That class ended up being one of the best in program history and I feel very strongly that this recruiting class will develop into frontrunners in the OVC in 2-3 years.
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“Karli, Sydney, Sara, Zoe and Ellen possess all of the intangibles that are essential to being successful in this sport,” Hillyard concluded.
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Karli Kitten
Kitten is a graduate of Forest Park High School where she was an IHSAA Class 2A first-team All-State honoree in addition to a first-team All-Southwest Indiana and All-Pocket Athletic Conference award winner. She has personal bests of 5:28 in the 1,600 meters, 11:35 in the 3,200 meters and 19:11 in the 5k.
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Sydney Klinglesmith
Klinglesmith is a graduate of Westfield High School, where she earned first-team Academic All-State in both cross country and track & field during her senior year. An honorable mention Academic All-State honoree in both cross country and track & field as a junior in 2021-22, Klinglesmith has personal bests of 5:33 in the 1,600 meters, 12:03 in the 3,200 meters and 18:49 in the 5k.
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Sara Livingston
Livingston is a graduate of Northeast Dubois High School where she was a four-time All-State and All-Conference honoree. The 2022 Blue Chip Conference champion in cross country, Livingston is a multiple-time regional qualifier and has personal bests of 5:24 in the 1,600 meters and 19:32 in the 5k.
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Zoe Seward
Seward is a graduate of Rochester Community High School where she was an IHSAA Class 3A honorable mention All-State honoree on the cross country course. Seward has posted personal best times of 5:31 in the 1,600 meters, 11:26 in the 3,200 meters and 19:04 in the 5k.
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Ellen White
White is a graduate of Columbus North High School where she was a state qualifier on the grass after finishing fourth at the regional championships last fall. White finished 103rd at the 2022 IHSAA Cross Country Championships and has personal-best times of 12:00 in the 3,200 meters and 19:01 in the 5k.
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The Eagles are scheduled to open the 2023 cross country campaign September 1 when they host the Stegemoller Classic at Angel Mounds.
