AUSTIN, Texas – UIndy student-athlete Lauren Bailey was named to the Academic All-America® Track & Field/Cross Country Third Team, announced Wednesday. Voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
 
Sporting a 3.62 GPA in Public Health Education & Promotion, Bailey earned her first career inclusion on the Academic All-America® list after an impressive performances during both the cross country and indoor track seasons. The junior out of Westfield, Ind., earned a pair of invitations to the 2020 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships after posting school record times and GLVC titles in both the 3,000- and 5,000-meter races. She headed into Nationals with the top time in Division II in the 5K (16:14.16) and third-fastest in the 3K (9:28.24) prior to its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, Bailey helped the Hounds set a new program benchmark in the 4,000-meter distance medley relay.
 
She was just an impressive on the cross country course in the fall. After placing second at the GLVC Championships and third at the Midwest Regional, Bailey became the first Greyhound woman to garner cross country All-America honors with a ninth-place showing at the 2019 NCAA DII Cross Country Championships.
 
Bailey, who was also named the GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in women's cross country, becomes the Greyhounds' sixth and final Academic All-American in 2019-20, joining student-athletes from volleyball and softball as well as three at-large recipients. She is the eighth UIndy track & field and/or cross country student-athlete to earn the honor and the first female since 2009.