EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana senior All-American Mary Ballinger was named the GLVC Female Track Athlete of the Week for the third time this season for her efforts at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet.

Ballinger posted an NCAA II provisional qualifying time of 17 minutes, 2.56 seconds in the 5,000 meters, finishing seventh out of 45 competitors.

The 2009 national champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Ballinger has already assured herself a spot in the NCAA II Indoor Championships, which are March 12-13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ballinger posted an automatic qualifying time in the mile earlier this season.

Ballinger currently ranks fifth, nationally, in the mile and 10th in the 5,000 meters. She also ranks first in the GLVC in the mile, the 3,000 meters, and the 5,000 meters.

A food and nutrition major, Ballinger won finished fifth at the NCAA II Cross Country Championships last fall and was recently named the GLVC Scholar Athlete of the Year for cross country.

This marks the third time in Ballinger's career that she has been named the GLVC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week. She has earned the honor three times in outdoor track and was named the GLVC Runner of the Week in cross country five times during her three years in a USI uniform.

USI returns to action Friday when it competes at the Eastern Illinois University Friday Night Special in Charleston, Illinois. The GLVC Championships are February 26-27 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.