April 05, 2008
Eagles grab three individual titles,
Ballinger, Dixon post NCAA marks
Complete Results
USI Results Only
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.—The University of Southern Indiana women's track and field team grabbed three individual titles and posted a pair of NCAA II qualifying marks Saturday at the SEMOtion Relays.
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Mary Ballinger |
Sophomore
Mary Ballinger (Chesterton, Indiana) ran an NCAA II automatic qualifying time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in her first attempt of the 2008 outdoor season. Ballinger finished first in the race with a meet-record time of 10 minutes, 48.49 seconds, less than six seconds off the school-record pace set by former All-American Missy Burgin last year.
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Allison Shafer |
Juniors
Christy Dixon (Owensboro, Kentucky) and
Allison Shafer (Plainville, Indiana) also posted first-place finishes. Dixon was first in the 800 meters with a time of two minutes, 16.06 seconds, while Shafer was first in the 5,000 meters with a time of 18 minutes, 18.45 seconds.
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Christy Dixon |
Dixon also finished second in the 1,500 meters with an NCAA II provisional qualifying time of four minutes, 40.70 seconds.
As a team, the Screaming Eagles had eight top-10 finishes, including junior
Sarah Baysden's (Shelbyville, Indiana) fourth-place showing in the 5,000 meters and freshman
Leslee Getts' (Corunna, Indiana) fourth-place finish in the steeplechase.
USI is scheduled to send a few runners to the Chico Distance Carnival April 11-12 in Chico, California, while the rest of the Eagles are slated to compete at the Little State Championships April 11-12 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
