EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana freshman Hadessah Austin was named Ohio Valley Conference Female co-Track Athlete of the Week in an announcement by the league office Wednesday afternoon.

This is the second time Austin has been honored with an OVC weekly honor after earning OVC Freshman of the Week on February 5.

Austin obliterated the former USI freshmen record in the 5,000 meters with her OVC-best time of 16 minutes, 28.57 seconds at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational Saturday in Boston, Massachusetts. She was less than a second off the all-time indoor school record, which was set by Jennifer Comastri (16:27.76) at the 2021 NCAA II Indoor Championships.

Senior Cameron Hough had the previous freshmen records in both the 3,000 and the 5,000 meters, but Austin’s performance at the Lenny Lyles Invite set a new indoor 3k freshman record, while her effort in the 5,000 meters Saturday was nearly 30 seconds faster than Hough’s previous mark (16:55.89).

Austin joins fellow classmate Abrielle Richard in earning OVC Track Athlete of the Week honors. Richard earned the award along with OVC Freshman of the Week accolades last Wednesday.

A native of Attica, Indiana, and a Seeger High School graduate, Austin now ranks first in the OVC in both the 3,000 meters and the 5,000 meters.

The Screaming Eagles return to action February 25-26 when they compete at the OVC Indoor Championships at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion in Indianapolis.