April 22, 2009
Ballinger, Emerick earn GLVC honors
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana junior All-American Mary Ballinger (Chesterton, Indiana) was named the GLVC Female Track Athlete of the Week, while freshman All-GLVC performer Dustin Emerick (Elmwood, Illinois) was selected as the GLVC Male Track Athlete of the Week for their respective performances at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California, last Thursday.
This marks the second time in three weeks that the Ballinger and Emerick have earned GLVC Track Athlete of the Week honors.
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Mary Ballinger |
Ballinger, who was named USI's Integra Bank Female Student-Athlete of the Year Monday night, obliterated the school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase as she finished first in the Olympic Developmental competition with an NCAA Division II-best time of 10 minutes, 26.73 seconds. In just her second steeplechase event of the season, Ballinger claimed the nation's top mark and currently holds that position by nearly 10 seconds.
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Dustin Emerick |
Emerick finished his first 10,000-meter track event in an NCAA II automatic qualifying time of 29 minutes, 57.41 seconds last Thursday night. His time ranks fourth in the country and is fourth on USI's all-time performance list that includes USI and GLVC Hall of Fame members Elly Rono (28:53.00) and James Nolan (29:56.77) as well as five-time All-American Paul Jellema (29:17.81).
Emerick, who also set a USI freshman record with his performance, currently leads the GLVC in both the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters.
USI is slated to compete at the Hillsdale "Gina" Relays in Hillsdale, Michigan, Friday and Saturday as well as the Stan Lyons Open in Indianapolis, Indiana, Saturday.
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
