INVADERS OPEN INDOOR SEASON WITH NATIONAL QUALIFYING MARKS

January 30, 2002
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders hit early national qualifying marks with Le'gretta Smith's 8.30 win in the 60H at the Smith Barney Invitational, hosted by Butler University, on January 26th and with Carri Long's winning leap of 1.83 in the high jump at the University of Iowa on January 19th.

Smith's win in the 60H broke the meet record that she set in 2001. Teammate Linise Gordon took the runner-up position in the 60H with a 8.60 performance. In addition to leading the charge in the hurdles, Smith took top honors in the 200 (24.82), followed by Gordon in second (25.18), and was runner-up in the 400 (55.80). Smith also ran a leg of the winning 4x400 relay that broke the meet record set in 1996. The relay's time of 3:46.11 was 2.11 seconds off qualifying for the USA Indoor National Championships to be held March 1-2 at the Armory in New York City, New York.

Coach Greg Harger commented, "As the 4x400 relay performance showed this weekend the continuing growth and diversity of our roster in the running events offers the opportunity to see some great relays in the future."

Long's performance last weekend in Iowa tied the Hawkeye Invitational meet record set in 1983. Long, a graduate of Purdue University and a member of the 2001 World University Team, won the Smith Barney high jump with a clearance of 1.82.

The Invaders also claimed top spots with Gordon in the triple jump (11.76), Keisha Banks in the Mile (4:53.60), Shannon Gallagher in the pole vault (3.81), and Frankie Young in the long jump (7.23).

Coach Aron McGuire said, "I'm very pleased with everyone's fall training and early season preparation. We're expecting several more national qualifiers over the next couple of weekends."

The Invaders will compete in three meets this coming weekend. The Indiana Invitational will see Paula Serrano in the pole vault, Jada Phelps in the long jump, Le'gretta Smith in the 60h and 400. Frankie Young will long jump and Carri Long will high jump at Ohio State. Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational will have both Kathy Kadziolka and Eddie Nehus in the Mile, Pristina Jones in the long jump, Linise Gordon will be in the 60h, 200, and 400, Marc Dzradosi will triple jump, Rick Sluder will race in the 5000, and Charlie Smith will race in the 400.

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

PRISCILLA HEIN SEVENTH AT IAAF CHALLENGE IN BELFAST, IRELAND

January 19, 2002
(INDIANAPOLIS) Priscilla Hein raced a formidable international field in the IAAF Challenge, a nationally televised (Ireland) cross country race, in Belfast, Ireland on January 19, 2002. Hein finished seventh in a field that included eventual race winner Kenyan Esther Kiplagat and runner-up American Colleen De Reuck along with a field of top international cross country runners.

Ireland`s Anne Keenan Buckley and Rosemary Ryan who Hein had split at the Rás na hÉireann International finished 3rd & 4th respectively.

Coach Greg Harger offered, "Facing the severe intestinal cramping as Hein did the day before and the day of this race, she really was not in a position to even race. Given her fitness level, this was certainly frustrating to be in a race and not be able to give a full effort against such a solid field of competitors. She handled herself very well on this little cross country tour and the lessons learned will prove valuable in the very near future."

Hein will compete at the USA World Trials in Vancouver, Washington on February 9th, 2002.
http://www.usatf-oregon.org/cross_country/winter_natls.htm

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

INVADERS' HEIN TO COMPETE AT IAAF CHALLENGE, IRELAND

January 18, 2002
(INDIANAPOLIS) Invaders' Priscilla Hein will face a formidable international field in the IAAF Challenge at the Stormont Estate, Belfast, Ireland on January 19, 2002. The nationally televised (Ireland) cross country race features a field of top athletes from Poland, Portugal, England, and Ireland.

The IAAF Challenge is Hein's second race in Ireland this season. Hein was runner-up to Irish Champion Anne Keenan-Buckley at the 33rd Coca Cola Ras na hEireann International, on January 13, 2002.

After Hein's finish at the Rás na hÉireann International she said, "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to run a better race in the second half against what looks like a much deeper field of talent. Racing athletes of the talent level of Keenan-Buckley & Rosemary Ryan is an experience that I must make the most of if I'm to be where I want to be next month at US World Cross Trials. I know that there will be many strong athletes in this field and I'm looking forward to competing against them on the 19th."

Coach Greg Harger commented, "With athletes such as Esther Kiplagat & Colleen De Reuck in the field, this race will be excellent preparation for Hein in future international settings. She is ready to run with and challenge any athlete at this level in the years ahead of her and this is just the beginning. You can count on Hein getting in a race and being a factor, that is one reason she has been making such rapid progress over the past 18 months".

Hein will compete at the USA World Trials in Vancouver, Washington on February 9th, 2002.
http://www.usatf-oregon.org/cross_country/winter_natls.htm

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

INVADERS' PRISCILLA HEIN SECOND AT RAS INTERNATIONAL, IRELAND

January 13, 2002
(INDIANAPOLIS) Invaders' Priscilla Hein placed second in Ireland's oldest international cross country race, the 33rd Coca Cola Rás na hÉireann International, on January 13, 2002. Hein lead the race for 2K when Irish Champion Anne Keenan Buckley asserted herself. After battling Buckley, Hein narrowly held off Rosemary Ryan for 2nd place in front of a boistrous Irish crowd.

Hein said, "I felt good about getting out and forcing the pace early. Anne really did a good job of breaking things up after 2K. I need to do a better job next weekend in Belfast of racing through the middle portion of the race."

Coach Greg Harger commented, "For her first international competition Hein has handled the travel and related activities very well. It was good to learn that she still has a kick available at the end of a hard race as we have not touched on true speed work yet this season as the focus is on racing at her best in March at the World Championships. She has the ability to race much better mentally through the second half of the race than what transpired today and fortunately her schedule allows her to race Buckley and several additional top notch international cross country athletes this coming Saturday in Belfast before returning home to Indy for final preparations for the USA World CC Trials."

Hein will next compete in the IAAF Challenge at the Stormont Estate, Belfast, Ireland on January 19.

33rd Coca Cola Rás na hÉireann International:
http://home.att.net/~c.breagy/

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

INVADERS' PRISCILLA HEIN HEADS TO IRELAND

January 10, 2002
(INDIANAPOLIS) Priscilla Hein heads to Dunleer, Co. Louth Ireland to compete in her first international cross country competition. Hein will compete in Ireland's oldest international cross country race, the 33rd Coca Cola Rás na hÉireann International, on January 13, 2002.

The 4K women's race will also feature Ireland's Ann Keenan-Buckley and Rosemary Ryan. Keenan-Buckley was the Ras runner-up in 2001, the Rás champion in 2000, and 20th at the 2001 World Cross Country Championships.

Hein won the Fall USA National Cross Country Championships ('01) and finished 10th at the USA World Cross Country Trials ('01). Hein also ran in the USATF finals at the Mile indoors ('01) and the 1500 outdoors ('01) and ran one of the fastest times ever at Boston's famed Franklin Park CC course in winning the Boston Mayor's Cup title on October 28th, 2001.

Coach Greg Harger commented, "This is a great opportunity that Hein has created for herself by the level of her recent performances. The opportunity to see international competition twice before contesting the USA World Cross Country Trials in February is a tremendous experience in preparation for the World Cross Country Championships which are scheduled for Ireland in March." Added Harger, "Hein is a very strong competitor and with her added fitness since Fall Nationals we look for her to challenge the field this weekend as she is not one to be intimidated by her first international cross country competition."

The Coca Cola Rás na hÉireann International is the first of two international cross country events to be staged in Ireland this January that Hein will run.

33rd Coca Cola Rás na hÉireann International:
http://home.att.net/~c.breagy/

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