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John Carroll University Athletics

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CSC Academic All-District for Women's TF XC

Anthony, Arnold, Esper, Kitsmiller Named CSC Academic All-District®

| By: Joe Ginley '16, SID
The Blue Streaks' quartet enjoyed an outstanding 2022-23 academic year. 
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – John Carroll Women's Cross Country and Track & Field program did wonderfully in competition, but also did excellently in the classroom. 

The Blue Streaks have tallied four honorees on the 2022-23 Academic All-District® Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA).

In alphabetical order, Taylor Anthony, Genevieve Arnold, Erica Esper, and Ellie Kitsmiller earned Academic All-District honors for the Blue Streaks this season.

The CSC Academic All-America® program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. The program separately recognizes track & field/cross country honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Taylor Anthony put an exclamation mark on her career with a standout senior season. During indoor season, Massillon native tallied an All-OAC finish in the 55m at the OAC Indoor Championships. She also scored points with a sixth-place finish in the 200m. But it was during outdoor season when her talents truly shone bright. Anthony shattered the 100m school record with a time of 12.05. At the OAC Outdoor Championships, she'd capture All-OAC status in the event, as well. And during the Mount Union Last Chance Meet, Anthony helped the 4x100 relay punch a ticket to Nationals with a school-record time of 46.79. Anthony and the Blue Streaks just missed out on All-American honors at the big dance, with a ninth-place finish. The Communications major logged a 3.89 GPA in the classroom. 

Genevieve Arnold is a jack-of-all-trades athlete for the track & field team. During indoor season, she shined with three All-OAC finishes. She did the trick in the long jump, triple jump, and the 4x100 relay. She also tabbed fourth in the 55m hurdles and eighth in the 55m. At the OAC Outdoor Championships, she was one of JCU's busiest athletes. The Orchard Park, NY native roared for All-OAC efforts in the long jump, 100m hurdles, 100m, and the 4x100 relay. Additionally, she scored points for the team in the triple jump (4th) and 200m (5th). Arnold also played a crucial role in the aforementioned 4x100 relay that shattered the school record before Nationals and earned ninth in Rochester. As a Chemistry major, she registered a 3.928 GPA. 

Erica Esper is the kind of heart and soul runner that every program needs. Her senior season got off to a fantastic start during cross country season. At the OAC Championships, she rose to the occasion with a third-place effort, snagging All-OAC First Team recognition. At Regionals, she continued to lead the squad, rolling to fourth place and All-Region honors. Thanks to Esper, JCU claimed OAC and Regional Championships. She didn't slow down during indoor season, as the Independence native penciled in All-OAC times in the 3000m and 5000m at the OAC Indoor Championships, with second and third-place finishes. Earlier in the year, she also set the school mile record with a time of 5:02.92. During outdoor season, Esper hit her full stride. At the OAC Outdoor Championships, Esper achieved the vaunted 5k & 10k double, winning both races. Thanks to this feat, Esper was crowned as the OAC Most Outstanding Distance Runner, the first such award of her career. The JCU Sports Information employee also clocked a good enough time to punch a ticket to Nationals. In Rochester, she tabbed a 20th place finish. Academically, she was almost perfect with a 3.976 GPA as an Exercise Science major, supplementing with Academic All-OAC status in cross country. She'll be back next year as a graduate student. 

Ellie Kitsmiller experienced a breakout sophomore season. For starters in cross country season, the Baltimore, OH native snagged Second Team All-OAC status with an 11th place finish at the OAC Championships to aid in JCU's successful title defense. She followed it up with an All-Region effort while helping the Blue Streaks win the regional crown. During indoor season, she snagged All-OAC status in the Distance Medley Relay, also hitting fourth-place in the 400m and 800m. The DMR squad's time of 12:08.22 now stands as a school record. During outdoor season, the Bishop Hartley grad roared for three All-OAC medals. The mid-distance athlete tabbed second individually in the 800m with a school-record time of 2:14.23. As part of the 4x800 relay, Kitsmiller helped break the school mark with a time of 9:15.70. Thanks in part to her efforts, the 4x400 relay also finished second at OACs. In the classroom, she achieved a 3.66 GPA as an Exercise Science major, adding Academic All-OAC honors for cross country.

Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced June 28.
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