USI Event Results Only

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—University of Southern Indiana senior All-American Mary Ballinger and freshman Michael Jordan each advanced to the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase with their respective efforts Thursday night in the preliminary rounds of the NCAA II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Ballinger, who is the defending national champion in the women's steeplechase, finished fourth in her heat to qualify for Saturday's final. She completed the race in a comfortable 10 minutes, 43.14 seconds.

Jordan also finished fourth in his heat to advance to the finals in the men's steeplechase. He crossed the finish line in nine minutes, 8.45 seconds to secure his spot in the final 12.

Sophomore's Dustin Emerick and Jackie Henderson finished 12th and 15th, respectively, in the men's and women's 10,000 meters Thursday night. Emerick finished the men's race in 31 minutes, 23.47 seconds after Henderson crossed the finish line in the women's race in 36 minutes, 29.12 seconds.

All 18 of the women's competitors and all 16 of the men's competitors in the 10,000 meters had to battle warm conditions in Charlotte, North Carolina, this evening, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80's during the day.

Ballinger will attempt to win her second consecutive national championship in the steeplechase Saturday at 4:10 p.m. (CDT), while Jordan will compete in the men's steeplechase finals Saturday at 4:25 p.m.