Final NCAA II Outdoor Championship Field
Men | Women
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana men's and women's track and field teams are sending four student-athletes to the NCAA II Outdoor Championships May 27-29 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Senior All-American Mary Ballinger and sophomore Jackie Henderson will represent the women's squad. Ballinger is slated to compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Henderson made the final cut in the 10,000 meters.
The men's squad will be represented by sophomore Dustin Emerick and freshman Michael Jordan. Emerick qualified in the 10,000 meters, while Jordan will compete in the steeplechase.
Ballinger is looking to become the first female student-athlete in school history to win back-to-back national championships. She captured the national title in the steeplechase last year when she set a school record in the event and nearly set an NCAA II meet record, finishing less than three second shy of the mark with her time of 10 minutes, 22.98 seconds.
An eight-time All-American, Ballinger ranks sixth in the 18-competitor field with her season-best time of 10 minutes, 34.23 seconds.
Henderson is making her first trip to the NCAA II Outdoor Championships, though she gained valuable experience on the national level when she competed at the NCAA II Cross Country Championships this past fall. She ranks 18th in the field with her season-best time of 35 minutes, 51.56 seconds.
Emerick is making his second straight trip to the NCAA II Outdoor Championships after finishing 14th in the 10,000 meters at the 2009 national meet. An All-American in cross country this past fall, Emerick ranks 10th in the 16-competitor field with his season-best time of 29 minutes, 49.16 seconds.
Jordan, who competed in the NCAA II Cross Country Championships this past fall, assured himself of a spot in the 17-competitor field last Friday when he posted a USI freshman record time of nine minutes, 00.21 seconds. Jordan, who won the GLVC championship in the event and ranks eighth in the field, was just 2.21 seconds away from the school-record set by USI and GLVC Hall of Famer Elly Rono '98.
Ballinger competes in the prelims of the women's steeplechase May 27 at 6:10 p.m. (CDT), while Jordan competes in the prelims of the men's steeplechase May 27 at 6:40 p.m. The finals of the women's 10,000 meters are May 27 at 7:40 p.m., while the finals of the men's 10,000 meters are May 27 at 8:20 p.m.
If Ballinger and Jordan advance to the finals of the steeplechase, they will complete May 29 at 4:10 p.m. and 4:25 p.m., respectively. All-America honors will be awarded to the top eight finishers in each event.
Complete coverage including live results and live video can be accessed at www.gousieagles.com.
