EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana senior All-American Mary Ballinger was named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District V first team in a vote by the district’s sports information directors.
The College Division in District V includes NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA, and junior college institutions from Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Manitoba, and Ontario.
Ballinger, a nine-time All-American during her three years with the Screaming Eagles, became the third female student-athlete in school history to capture a NCAA II national championship when she won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2009 NCAA II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
This past fall, Ballinger carried that momentum into the cross country season where she was named the GLVC Runner of the Year after capturing the GLVC individual title. Ballinger went on to capture her third All-America honor in cross country when she finished fifth at the NCAA II National Championships.
Ballinger, who carries a 3.54 GPA as a food and nutrition major, was named the GLVC Scholar Athlete of the Year for Cross Country this past fall.
She came back during the indoor track and field season to finish eighth in the mile at the NCAA II Indoor Championships, capturing her eighth All-America honor. Ballinger was named the GLVC Track Athlete of the Year after capturing a pair of titles at the GLVC Indoor Championships.
This past Saturday, Ballinger finished third in the steeplechase at the NCAA II Outdoor Championships, putting a cap on what was one of the most story-booked careers in USI history.
In addition to the All-America accolades, Ballinger has captured nine GLVC individual titles and led the USI women’s cross country team to back-to-back conference titles. She also is a two-time USI/Integra Bank Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
By earning first-team Academic All-District V honors, Ballinger will be placed on the ballot for Academic All-America honors.