USI Track & Field laces up for indoor season Eagles take on Bellarmine Open

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Track & Field begins the 2024 indoor campaign Friday at the Bellarmine Open in Louisville, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles look to continue its success in their second year in NCAA Division I and Ohio Valley Conference.
 
USI will travel to nine meets this season including the OVC Indoor Championships at the Birmingham Crossplex in Birmingham, Alabama February 21-22. Last season, the Eagles had a pair of first-place finishes including five podium awards in their first-ever OVC Indoor Championships.
 
Making a return for the women is junior Audrey Comastri (Indianapolis, Indiana) who scored four top 10 finishes at the championships last season including second place finishes in both the 800 meters and the distance medley relay. Comastri took home first place in the 400 meters at the ISU Open with a personal-best time of one minute flat in 2023.
 
For the men, senior Mitchell Hopf (Santa Claus, Indiana) will lead the pack this season for USI after earning two top-five finishes at last year’s OVC Championship in the 3,000 meters and the 5,000 meters. in 2023, Hopf was able to collect a pair of personal bests in the 3,000 meters and mile with two top 10 finishes for the Eagles.
 
USI Head Coach Mike Hillyard returns for his 27th season at the helm. Last season, Hillyard led his squads to a pair of sixth-place conference finishes in the indoor season.