BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UIndy Athletics history was made Friday night at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships as senior Lauren Bailey won an individual national championship but also set a DII record in the process.
 
Bailey captured the 5,000-meter crown finishing with a record-breaking time of 16:03.98. The lightning-fast time shattered her own school mark (16:17.70) while also shaving nearly two-and-a-half seconds off the Division II Championship Meet record. It was also good for the second-fastest 5K time in DII history.
 
A native of Westfield, Ind., Bailey became just the second Greyhound woman to win an indoor track & field event title, joining UIndy Athletics Hall of Famer Andrea Horban (shot put, 2006).
 

?? | Here's what a national-championship race looks like! @UIndyXCTF #D2WITF pic.twitter.com/tMtbF4j8mI

— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) March 13, 2021

Senior Berenice Cleyet-Merle secured her spot in Saturday's 800-meter final. Coming into the meet with the top time in DII, Cleyet-Merle followed suit by winning heat 2 with a time of 2:11.14. She will be one of eight women compete for the event champion tomorrow, with the 800 final scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET.
 
Making his debut at nationals, Ben Nagel put up a solid time in the men's 800 meter. The junior from Mooresville posted a time of 1:54.78, placing fifth in heat 1 and 12th overall. Earlier in the evening, Nagel was announced as the sport's Elite 90 honoree.
 
The only field qualifier for the Hounds this year, Brittney Clark tied for ninth in the women's pole vault. She was one of three competitors to clear 3.95 meters on her first attempt to come just shy of her own school record (3.98m).

The Indoor Championships conclude Saturday. Cleyet-Merle will race in the aforementioned 800 final, while Bailey will run it back in the 3,000 meter starting at 8 p.m. ET.