INDIANA INVADERS BATTLE AT BOSTON MAYOR'S CUP

October 28, 2002
(INDIANAPOLIS) Invaders' Stephanie Dueringer finished in 10th and Mary Duerbeck followed in 17th at the Boston Mayor's Cup in historic Franklin Park on October 27th. This premier cross country event, hosted by USATF-NE and the Boston Athletic Association, drew a record participation of over 700 athletes.

The 13th edition of the Mayor's Cup drew a very deep and competitive field of collegiate & post-collegiate distance runners that included past National Champions. Kristin Chisum, a former U.S. champion at 15-kilometers, won the women's 5k race while Sarah Hann, the 2000 National Club Cross Country Champion finished in fifth.

Coach Greg Harger said, "Duerbeck and Dueringer, were definitely in one of the most competitive cross country events available this season on the domestic scene. This was an excellent test for both at this time of the season." Added Harger, "Neither athlete was satisfied with the outcome and that bodes well for them in the coming weeks of critical training and preparation for December's national club championship meet."

Boston Athletic Association:
http://www.baa.org/

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

INDIANA INVADERS TO COMPETE AT BOSTON MAYOR'S CUP

October 24, 2002
(INDIANAPOLIS) Invaders' Mary Duerbeck and Stephanie Dueringer will compete in the 13th edition of the Boston Mayor's Cup at Franklin Park on October 27th. This premier cross country event is hosted by the Boston Athletic Association.

The Mayor's Cup is regarded as one of the East Coast's premier cross country events for post-collegiate athletes. Now in its 13th year, the Mayor's Cup annually draws a deep and competitive field of harriers of collegiate & post-collegiate runners.

The distance duo, of Duerbeck and Dueringer, went one-two in leading the Invaders to their season opening win at the Genesee Valley Harriers' Invitational in Rochester, NY on October 13.

Coach Greg Harger said, "Duerbeck and Dueringer have their season focus on the World Cross Country season with specific focus on their team's USATF championship title defense efforts in Rocklin, California and then the USA World Cross Country Trials in February. The Mayor's Cup is an excellent event at this time of the year for post-collegiate cross country runners." Added Harger, "It would have been nice to put together a team to defend our women's team title and make a run at the men's title in Boston this year, but our athlete's individual schedules just did not come together on this weekend. We'll save our next team appearance for the USATF Team Championships where we have had our focus since August. I look for a solid performance from Duerbeck and Dueringer in Boston as they build toward a peak competitive effort in December."

Duerbeck, this year's national club 5,000 champion, won her cross country season opener at the Genesee Valley Harriers' (GVH) Invitational in Rochester, NY. Dueringer, the 2002 national club champion at 1,500 meters, took runner-up honors in her season opener at the GVH Invitational.

Boston Athletic Association:
http://www.baa.org/

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

INDIANA INVADERS STRONG CROSS COUNTRY OPENER IN NEW YORK

October 14, 2002
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders dominated their cross country season opener at the Genesee Valley Harriers' Invitational in Rochester, NY on October 13. The team captured the women's title with 18 points and the men's title with 37 points. Individual titles, by Invaders' Mary Duerbeck and Donnie Fellows, lead both teams strong early season showings. The Invaders placed five in the top six finishers in the women's 5k race and three in the top five finishers of the men's 8k race.

On the women's side, Stephanie Dueringer finished second, Leah Nilsson was fourth, Keisha Banks placed fifth, and Susie Motl took sixth. The women captured their third consecutive team title at the GVH Cross Country Invitational.

On the men's side, Rick Sluder finished in third, Gareth Wilford fifth, Jason Bialka was 14th, Paul Howarth took 18th, and Todd Moroney placed 22nd. For the men, this was their first team title at the GVH Cross Country Invitational.

Coach Greg Harger said, "From a team perspective we felt good about this weekend's efforts as we are two months away from our team focus on the national club cross country championships. The women's team is rebuilt from that of one year ago, and we ran this meet without a couple of strong athletes that will be a significant part of our roster in December. The men's team has improved greatly over last season with added talent and depth. Both teams could be ready for best efforts at the championships in December as we do not have any early season over-training issues and we have two teams with fresh, collective leadership that involves everyone on the roster making positive contributions."

Harger added, "All of our athletes have shown great patience in preparing as a team this season and we look forward to the challenge of peaking at the national championships in December."

Genesee Valley Harrier Invitational:
http://www.gvh.net

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

INDIANA INVADERS OPEN CROSS COUNTRY SEASON IN NEW YORK

October 10, 2002
The Indiana Invaders open with their first scored cross country meet of the season on Sunday October 13, 2002 at the Genesee Valley Harriers' Cross Country Invitational at Black Creek Park in Rochester, NY.

For the Invaders, Rick Sluder returns to defend his 2001 individual men's title and as a team the Invaders look for their first men's title and a third consecutive women's team title.

The women's team placed four in the top 10 in 2000 & six in the top 10 in 2001. The women's squad is also the reigning 2001 Fall USA Cross Country Team Champions.

Coach Greg Harger said, "We're two months away from the Fall Cross Country Championships and we're looking forward to running on a tough course this weekend to evaluate our training and preparation for nationals. This is the first time this season for nearly everyone on the roster to jump on a cross country course together and compete as a team."

The Invaders women's team will face top east coast teams including the Syracuse Chargers, the Toronto Olympic Club, Buffalo's Checkers AC, and the host team Genesee Valley Harriers.

On the women's side, the team this weekend consists of Keisha Banks, Mary Duerbeck, Stephanie Dueringer, Susie Motl, and Leah Nilsson. Invaders missing this weekend include Kelly French who is wrapping up a two month training stint in Thailand while Monika Stupian and Kim Lorenz will sit out with minor injuries.

On the Men's side, the Invaders are fielding their first full men's team this early in the cross country season with Sluder, Jason Bialka, Donnie Fellows, Paul Howarth, Todd Moroney, and Gareth Wilford competing. The Invaders will battle several very competitive east coast teams including Greater Boston TC, Toronto Olympic Club, Philadelphia TC, Syracuse Chargers, Ithaca's High Noon AC, Buffalo's Checkers AC, and the host Genesee Valley Harriers.

Genesee Valley Harrier Invitational:
http://www.gvh.net

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

INVADERS SUPPORT USA TRACK & FIELD CLUB INITIATIVES

October 4, 2002
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders are preparing to meet the goals of USA Track & Field's club revitalization task force initiatives. The initiatives support the fitness and competitive needs of all individuals, of all ages and abilities, in communities throughout the country via USATF association-based clubs.

The areas of support, which will be implemented by the Invaders within the Indianapolis community next year, address elite development, youth development, masters development, and general fitness needs of the community.

USA Track & Field's Club Revitalization Mission Statement:
"To expand and broaden opportunities for America's track & field athletes to continue their participation and development outside of and beyond our school-based programs through USATF clubs."

For elite development, the initiatives emphasize providing athletes with sophisticated coaching, training groups of other emerging and elite athletes, access to training facilities, and high-performance competition.

For youth development, the initiatives serve the needs of boys & girls ages 8-14 and introduces them to the sport of track & field, teaches them event-specific skills, provides age-graded participation and advanced coaching and training techiques for those who wish to enhance their performances in youth competition.

For masters development, the initiatives address the needs of older individuals wanting to remain fit and competitive, and provides an environment for these like-minded individuals to train together.

For general fitness, the initiatives support providing opportunities for fun and fitness as part of an organized, supportive group, as well as opportunities to train to achieve specific performance goals as part of a training group of other similarly motived individuals.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "The goals of the Club Revitalization Initiatives are clear: provide and support the fitness and competitive needs of athletes of all ages and abilities." Harger added, "As a model for the sport, the Invaders are taking the lead in our community to implement these initiatives. The financial support for these initiatives will have an enormous positive impact on attaining stable community-based clubs. They put teeth to the issue of commiting and unifying the resources of all of the sport's development committees, responsible for the goverance and development of their events, to support the grass-roots clubs that impact and support athletes at every level of ability. We're proud to be able to take the lead on these initiatives within our community."

Bill Roe, President of USA Track & Field, said, "The Invaders have already performed service to our sport and our club initiatives by hosting the first two national club championships. Now they are upping the ante and showing the way for clubs around the country to access their communities. It's going to be a tough act to follow for any other club!"

The Invaders, in addition to hosting the USA Club Track & Field Championships, will release additional details on the team's elite development programs, youth league formation, and masters program later this fall.

The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998, present an innovative approach to track & field by providing a resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in the United States.

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