The SMU Track and Cross Country program is excited to announce the 2023-24 signing class and welcome nine new Mustangs to the hilltop. 

Ariana Sutton will join the Mustang sprint squad and bring impressive times to the table. She has posted times of 54.68 in the 400 and 24.90 in the 200. SMU will keep Sutton not too far from home as she comes from Schertz, which is south of Austin. She trained under Kristin Gorzell at Samuel Clemens High School and lettered each year. Sutton plans to study creative computing at SMU and said she chose to be a Mustang because she loved the track team and the program. 

Fellow Texan Gabriella Ayiteyfio will return to the state after competing for two years at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. While competing there, she was named the Ohio Valley Conference Athlete of the Week three times and became their 60-meter record holder with a time of 7.55 seconds as well as their heptathlon record holder with a score of 5,167. Originally from Houston, she attended George Ranch where she lettered all four years of high school and trained under Alicia Dutch. The junior plans to study data science while at SMU and said she wanted to continue her education at SMU as the academics are top notch and it is located in the heart of one of the best cities. 

Hali Murphy also returns home to Texas from one year competing for the University of Georgia. From Austin, she attended St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School where she trained under Bryan Hendricks and became a four-time 400-meter state champion. Not only did Murphy letter all four years of high school but she also achieved honor roll each year. She has posted times of 24.18 in the 200 and 53.23 in the 400. The sophomore said she was attracted to SMU because of the coaches and the school. 

Incoming freshman Kirin Chacchia chose SMU because it is close to home and a great school. From Frsico, she attended Heritage High School and trained under Chryste Gaines – becoming a multiple time state champion. As a senior, she ran 15.24 in the 100-meter hurdles and 41.89 in the 300-meter hurdles. Chacchia plans to study psychology.  

Ellie Grammas will join the Mustangs from Niles, Illinois where she trained under Chris Jon Simon at Loyola Academy and lettered all four years of high school. Grammas is a two-time conference champion and one-time regional champion in cross country. She also became the 3,200 conference champion in 2022. She has also run a time of 5:10.71 in the 1,600. Grammas chose SMU because she said the school creates opportunities to succeed both athletically and academically. She plans to study applied physiology and sports management. 

From Romagnat, France, Faustine Chaboche chose SMU because of the track and field team and coaches. She went to high school at Blaise Pascal and trained under Patrick Bringer. She comes to SMU having run times of 4:26.37 in the 1,500 and 2:11.76 in the 800. She plans to study international relations and studies while at SMU. 

Giavanna Vinciguerra is from Friendswood, Texas and lettered for four years under Ty Bush at Friendswood High School. She is a member of the team who won the 2022 5A Cross County Championships and has run 5:33.62 in the 1,600. She chose SMU because of its beautiful campus and school culture. 

Megan Aaron will join the hilltop as a graduate student studying counseling. Originally from Pennsylvania, she competed at Allegheny College under Ben Mourer and became a 2021 cross country conference champion and 2023 10k outdoor conference champion. In high school, she lettered every year at Seneca Valley under Steven Strelick. She has posted times of 4:53.59 in the 1,500, 10:30.39 in the 3k, 17:42.70 in the 5k, and 36:41.69 in the 10k. She chose to continue her athletic career and education at SMU because of the great athletic facilities and amazing counseling program. 

Flora Tissier will be a junior this year and has transferred from the University of Charleston, West Virginia. During her time competing there, she became the Mountain East Conference Individual Champion in the 1,500 twice, 5k, mile, and distance medley relay. She is a three time Academic All-American and a qualifier to indoor nationals in 2023. Originally from Montpellier, France, she attended Lycée Notre Dame de La Merci where she trained under Gilles Garcia. She will be studying accounting. 

"Our staff has done a great job recruiting our largest signing class," Head Coach A'Havahla Haynes said. "This group is driven, of great character and embodies what SMU represents. I'm excited by what each of these ladies will bring to the team."