Monday, November 16, 2009
USI hosting 2009 NCAA II Cross Country Championships for second time in five years
|
The NCAA, which announced that USI would host the 2009 NCAA II National Championships in February, brings in 48 teams and more than 400 student-athletes and coaches each year. The University has hosted three NCAA national championship events since 2000 (men's basketball in 2002 and men's and women's cross country in 2004 and 2009). "I think it's great for the department and the University," USI Director of Athletics Jon Mark Hall said. "We have a wonderful campus and wonderful people that work here. Events like this show the NCAA staff and other Division II member institutions what we are all about." USI hosted the 2004 NCAA II Cross Country Championships and USI Head Coach Mike Hillyard is excited to have the chance to do it again. "We had a lot of positive feedback from other coaches and athletes when we hosted in 2004," said Hillyard. "I feel like 2004 was a tremendous success and would like to duplicate that effort." "I think it is always good, anytime you can have a major event on your campus," Hillyard continued. "It certainly puts the University, the administration, and your student athletes in the spotlight. It's great for the community and it's great for our student-athletes to have that opportunity." Hosting the NCAA II National Championships also can have a positive economic impact for the Evansville area, generating a possible $796,000 of revenue. "I think the plus about hosting the championship is that it brings a tremendous amount of people to the Evansville community," Hall said. "Hotel rooms are being booked and meals will be ordered in Evansville restaurants. Having hosted the event in 2004, Hall feels like USI will do an even better job this year. "Times have changed and the event has probably changed a bit," Hall said. "We have a great venue for it and I don't want to say it will be easier this time around, but I think anytime you have experience at something, you'll do a better job." With strong, nationally ranked squads in 2009, USI is looking forward to the chance of having its men's and women's teams compete at the national meet. The men's team is ranked eighth nationally by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, while the women's team is ninth. Both squads won their respective Great Lakes Valley Conference championships in October. The women's squad features Mary Ballinger, from Chesterton, Indiana, and a six-time All-American in cross country and track. "It's a rare opportunity for your student-athletes to have a chance to run a national championship on their home course," Hillyard said. "We have a couple of good teams this year and are definitely excited about the possibility of that happening." |
Copyright © 2013 University of Southern Indiana. All rights reserved.