EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The No. 9-ranked University of Southern Indiana women’s cross country team has its sites set on a trip to nationals as it prepares for the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Championships Saturday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The Screaming Eagles, who captured their second straight GLVC Championship two weeks ago, enter this weekend’s regional meet with one goal in mind: advance to the NCAA II Championships which will be held November 21 on its home course in Evansville, Indiana.
USI, which is second in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association Midwest Region Rankings, has plenty of reason to believe it will accomplish that goal. The Eagles, who must finish in the top three to advance to nationals, had seven runners finish in the top 14 of the GLVC Championships two weeks ago, including senior All-American Mary Ballinger.
Ballinger, one of the top candidates to win the individual title Saturday, earned GLVC Runner of the Year honors after finishing first at the GLVC Championships. Ballinger, who won the national championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase last spring, will be complimented by seniors Christy Dixon and Sarah Whiteman, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, at the GLVC Championships.
The NCAA II Midwest Region Championship begins at 10 a.m. with the women’s 6k race, while the men’s 10k race begins at 11 a.m.