EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's cross country/track and field team announced that incoming freshman Skylair Hilton (Middlebury, Indiana) has signed a national letter of intent to compete for Head Coach Mike Hillyard's Screaming Eagles in 2011-12.

Hilton comes to USI from Northridge High School (Middlebury, Indiana) where she earned varsity letters in cross country and track.

A two-time All-State performer in cross country, Hilton has placed in the top 40 at the IHSAA State Cross Country Championships in each of the last three seasons.

As a senior in 2010, Hilton was 23rd at the state meet after placing second at semi-state and third at regionals. She was 39th at the IHSAA Cross Country Championships in 2009 and 21st at the state meet in 2008.

On the track, Hilton finished fourth in the 3,200 meters at the IHSAA State Championships this past weekend after recording a 12th-place as a junior at the 2010 state meet.

“Skylair has the capacity to be in the mix for us right away,” Hillyard said. “She is a great fit for our program and we are thrilled that she will be with us here at the USI.”

Hilton is the first addition to the women's cross country/track and field team for the 2011-12 campaign. USI, which hosts the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships in October, is looking for its third conference title in cross country in the last four years.