INVADERS PERFORM AT THE 92nd ANNUAL DRAKE RELAYS

April 29, 2001
(Indianapolis, Ind.) The Indiana Invaders competed at the 92nd annual Drake Relays in Des Moines Iowa in front of the 35th consecutive year of sell-out crowds on Saturday. The Invaders' first appearance at the Drake Relays was led by the charge of the field event athletes. Invaders' Jamie Strieter (Rolling Prairie, Ind.) won the javelin throw with a distance of 51.56. Lamont Dagen followed Jamie's lead with third place in the triple jump (16.45). Carri Long also finished third in the high jump (1.83). Tara Loper finished fifth for the Invaders in the hammer throw (56.72).

Teammate Lamont Dagen set his personal best in the Special Invitational Triple jump (16.45). Invaders' Olympic Heptathlete, DeDee Nathan (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) finished sixth in the Special 100 Meter Hurdles Finals (13.76).

"Strieter was highly motivated to come back and win after a close second place finish here in college. Strieter was very appreciative of the opportunity to compete at the Drake Relays in what had been a traditionally collegiate- only javelin field", said Invaders Club Director Greg Harger.

"This was a good solid outing for our field event people and most importantly for the introduction of the club to the Drake Relays," said Harger. "We look forward to taking the whole club next year. The Invaders are fired up about the opportunities created by the new meet director Mark Kostek and will return next year with a much larger contingent. Mark Kostek is working hard on taking the Drake Relays to a higher level with changes beneficial to the sport and the event. Fans will see some great athletic performances from the Invaders at the Drake Relays in the coming years and we look forward to working with the Drake Relays in promoting the sport." added Harger.

Overall Meet Results:
http://www.drakerelays.com

For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg Harger at 317 289-4018.

INVADERS' STRIETER STRONG OPENER IN INDY

April 24, 2001

(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana Invaders' Jamie Strieter, a native of Rolling Prairie Indiana, led the Invaders at the Indy Relays with her season opener in the javelin (51.50). Three of Strieter's six throws exceeded qualifying for the USA Outdoor National Track & Field Championships in the challenging winds on Saturday. 12 Invaders are currently qualified for outdoor nationals.

Invaders' Olympic Heptathlete, DeDee Nathan (Ft. Wayne, Ind.), competed at Indiana State University's Pacesetter Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana. Nathan won both the 100 hurdles (13.83) and the javelin throw (41.80). Dan Armentrout finished second in both the shot put (16.91) and the hammer throw (62.72).

Competing for the Invaders at the Mt. SAC Relays in California, Carri Long's 1.83 clearance in the high jump was good for fifth in the event.

Pacesetter Invitational Results
http://web.indstate.edu/athletic/track/pacesetterresults.html

Mt. SAC Relays Results
http://www.flashresults.com/flashwest/

For additional information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg Harger at 317 289-4018.

INDIANA INVADERS LED BY LE'GRETTA SMITH AT SEA RAY RELAYS

April 15, 2001

(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indiana Invaders opened up the 2001 outdoor track season at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, TN this weekend. The Invaders were led by Le'gretta Smith with her win in the 400 intermediate hurdles (58.67).

Kirt Thompson finished second in the invitational javelin with a throw of 69.84. Throws teammate Tara Loper, a graduate of Butler University, finished third with a toss of 58.24. "Loper continues to throw well on top of a wave of recent PR's this season after placing 7th at the US Indoor National Championships in the weight throw," said throws coach Matt Gaston.

Invaders' Olympic Heptathlete, DeDee Nathan (Ft. Wayne, Ind.), finished fourth in the shot put (16.06) with a personal best and seventh in the 100 hurdles (13.65). Smith also competed in the 100 hurdles finishing sixth (13.64).

"With 12 athletes already qualified for outdoor nationals and others preparing for a more extended season due to our hosting the newly created USATF National Club Championships in July, this was a smaller group than usual for us at the Sea Ray Relays," said Invaders Head Coach Chris Buhler. Added Buhler, "The marks by Smith, Loper, Thompson, and Nathan were very solid early season marks and we look for these four and a much larger contingent to make a strong showing at the Drake Relays in two weeks."

2001 Sea Ray Relays Results:
http://www.tenntrack.com/sea_ray/results01/results.htm

For additional information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg Harger at 317 289-4018.