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BLOOMINGTON, Ind.—Senior All-American Mary Ballinger posted an NCAA II automatic qualifying time in the mile Friday night to lead the University of Southern Indiana women's track and field team at the Indiana University Relays this weekend.

Ballinger finished eighth in the invitational portion of the mile with an NCAA II season-best time of four minutes, 53.53 seconds. The performance assures Ballinger her third consecutive trip to the NCAA II Indoor Championships, which will take place March 12-13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Earlier this season, Ballinger posted a provisional qualifying time in the mile at the Saluki Fast Times Challenge in Carbondale, Illinois. That time held up as the nation's top mile time until Ballinger became the first in the country to post an automatic qualifying time Friday night.

Ballinger's eighth-place finish was one of three top-10 finishes for the Screaming Eagles. Sophomore Jackie Henderson finished ninth in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10 minutes, 27.29 seconds. Henderson also teamed with Ballinger as well as senior Lauren Crick and sophomore Heather Beard to finish ninth in the distance medley relay.

The Eagles return to action February 12-13 when they send a split squad to Allendale, Michigan, to compete in the Grand Valley State University Big Meet. USI also will compete at the DePauw Indoor Invitational in Greencastle, Indiana, February 13.