EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Track & Field concludes the 2022-23 indoor season at the Ohio Valley Conference Track & Field Indoor Championship Wednesday and Thursday at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama. The Screaming Eagles will participate in the championship for the first time in program history.
Leading USI is junior McKenna Cavanaugh (New Albany, Indiana) who has had a stellar 2022-23 indoor campaign. Cavanaugh was crowned champion in the mile at the PNC Bank Bellarmine Classic after crossing the line in four minutes, 49.72 seconds. She also secured first place in the mile at the Bellarmine Open. Cavanaugh’s highlight this season was breaking the school indoor 3,000-meter record at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational with a time of 9:32.07. That time also is ranked first in the conference.
Cavanaugh has been recognized by the OVC twice this season by earning Co-Female Track Athlete of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks after her performances at the PNC Bank Bellarmine Classic and David Hemery Valentine Invitational.
On the men’s side, senior Noah Hufnagel (Santa Claus, Indiana) is ending his USI career on a high note, claiming the fastest USI time in the mile, 3,000 meters, and 5,000 meters this season. Hufnagel entered the top-10 fastest 3,000-meter list with his third-place finish at the PNC Bank Bellarmine Classic after crossing the line in 8:13.32. He also earned the fourth fastest USI time in the 5,000 meters at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational with a mark of 14:00.03 which is the fastest time this season in the OVC.
The Eagles will get some help in the pit from junior Kyle Crone (Maryville, Illinois). Crone currently holds the USI indoor long jump and triple jump records after his appearance in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships last season. In 2023, Crone nabbed the longest leap in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump with his best finishes being at the Bellarmine Open and ISU Open, earning third place in all three categories.
For more information about USI Track & Field and Athletics, go to USIScreamingEagles.com or follow USI Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
