February 14, 2009
Ballinger is automatic in 5,000-meter win,
Eagles notch four NCAA qualifying times
Complete Results
USI Results
 |
Mary Ballinger |
ALLENDALE, Mich.—Junior All-American
Mary Ballinger (Chesterton, Indiana) dominated the field in the 5,000 meters to lead the University of Southern Indiana women's indoor track and field team this weekend at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet.
Ballinger won the 5,000-meter invitational Friday night, bettering the second-place finisher by nearly 10 seconds with her NCAA Division II automatic qualifying time of 16 minutes, 45.35 seconds. She also teamed up with juniors
Lacy Williams (Haubstadt, Indiana) and
Lauren Crick (Evansville, Indiana) as well as senior
Christy Dixon (Owensboro, Kentucky) to lead USI to a third-place finish and a strong NCAA II provisional qualifying time of 11 minutes, 53.86 seconds in the distance medley relay.
Both Ballinger's 5,000-meter time and USI's DMR time are among the fastest in the country this season.
 |
Christy Dixon |
In all, the Screaming Eagles met four NCAA II qualifying standards this weekend. Dixon's time of five minutes, 5.35 seconds was enough to hit a provisional mark in the mile, while freshman
Adrienne Curtis (Louisville, Kentucky) also notched a mark in the 5,000 meters with her time of 17 minutes, 46.27 seconds.
USI returns to action February 27-28 when it competes at the GLVC Championships in Crawfordsville, Indiana, though a few runners may compete as early as next weekend in a meet to be determined.
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
