INVADERS' OLYMPIAN DEDEE NATHAN HEADS TO AUSTRIA
May 29, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Olympian DeDee Nathan will compete in
the heptathlon at the Hypo-Meeting Götzis, held in the Rhine valley
in Vorarlberg, Austria at Moesle Stadium. The Hypo-Meeting Götzis
is the world's premiere meet for the combined events.
The battle at the Hypo-Meeting Götzis features the world best athletes
hailing from 15 countries including Sweden, Russia, Germany, Portugal,
Italy, and the Ukraine.
Nathan, a two-time national champion in the heptathlon, won the
2000 Olympic Trials, was 9th at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, and
finished 7th at the 2001 World Championships. Nathan also won the
2001 heptathlon national championship and finished second in 2002.
Nathan's heptathlon PR of 6577 points is the third best ever by an
American.
Nathan, after focusing on graduate school for the past year, returns
to competition for the first time after finishing second at last
years' USATF National Championships. Nathan is looking for a season
opener of 6200 plus points this weekend.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Training under Coach Smith & Coach
Freeman has her back on track to fitness levels similar to her World
Indoor Championship in 1999 which lead into her heptathlon PR of 6577
points. She is very calm and determinedly focused on her remaining
final two seasons of world class competition."
Nathan set the American Record in the pentathlon in route to winning
the gold medal at the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships, in Maebashi,
Japan.
Hypo-Meeting Götzis:
http://www.meeting-goetzis.at/
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018.
INVADERS MISS THEIR MARKS AT GEORGIA TECH
May 18, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) Invaders' Linise Gordon and Hope Sanders missed
their marks at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia
on Saturday May 17th, 2003.
Sanders finished third in her section of the 800 and finished fourth
over-all in the 800 with a time of 2:06.26. After being in a
disadvantage tactically early in the race against a veteran field
of USA national qualifiers, Sanders made her move over the final 150
meters and moved from 8th to a narrow third.
Gordon, competing in the 400 hurdles, had a full contact experience
involving both the track and the number three hurdle. Gordon's injuries
do not appear to be major.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Gordon is, of course, not happy with
her crash. The 400 hurdles on occasion offer a humility lesson. Sanders'
strong finish is very encouraging, she raced very well after getting
into tactical problems early on. The tactical errors will be cleaned up
from her race situations as a matter of regular business. She is in a
great position to be racing very strong in June & July."
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018.
INVADERS' GORDON & SANDERS HEAD TO GEORGIA TECH INVITATIONAL
May 15, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders will be represented by Linise
Gordon (100H, 400H) and Hope Sanders (800) at the Georgia Tech
Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend.
Gordon, an accomplished hurdler from Ball State University, won
the heptathlon at the Drake Relays this season and finished eighth
in the 400 hurdles at the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships. Gordon
finished in the top three of four events at the 2002 USATF National
Club Championships (100H, 400H, HJ, and JT) in addition to leading
the Invaders to a team title in the 400 meter relay. Gordon is
looking to round into national qualifying form for the 400 hurdles
over the next couple of outings.
Sanders, a graduate of the University of Illinois and Warren
Central HS (Ind.), is a Four Time All-American and Big Ten Champion.
As a veteran USATF Championship competitor, Sanders has competed in
a number of national championships including three Indoor Championships
and the 2000 US Olympic Trials. The Head Coach for Indiana's Number 1
ranked girls high school team (Warren Central), is looking to post a
national qualifying mark at 800 meters in the next couple of weeks
as her high school coaching duties wind down for the 2003 season.
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018.
INVADERS' DANNER HITS NATIONAL QUALIFYING MARK
May 11, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) Invaders' Mary Danner hit the USATF qualifying
standard in the 400 with her winning personal best time of 52.62
at the Billy Hayes Invitational, hosted by Indiana University in
Bloomington, Indiana on Sunday, May 11th.
Teammates Linise Gordon and Brandon Hon both narrowly missed hitting
national qualifying marks with their wins in the 100H (13.57) and 400H
(50.98), respectively. Gordon also took third in the 400H (59.98).
Overall the Invaders won seven events and had two runner-up
performances at the Billy Hayes Invitational. Olympian Kirt
Thompson won the javelin throw with a toss of 71.42 meters.
Carri Long and Ebbie Metzinger, both graduates of Purdue
University, won the high jump (1.78) and pole vault (3.98),
respectively. Jacob Koczman won the 800 with a time of 1:51.20
and teammate Hope Sanders was second in the 800 (2:09.35).
Decathletes Brendon Falconer took second in the long jump (6.90)
and seventh in the 110H (14.77) while Alex Sprague took 11th in
the shot put (14.11). In the sprints, Amber Plowden took fourth
in the 200 (24.89) and sixth in the 100 (12.17). Pristina Jones
took 11th in the 400 (57.49) and 13th in the 200 (26.21).
Team Director Greg Harger said, "On a challenging, classic blustery
spring day we had numerous good performances and several more solid
competitive efforts. We can expect a few more national qualifying
marks in the next couple of weeks as the conditions and training
come together."
Billy Hayes Invitational:
http://www.iuhoosiers.com
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018.
INVADERS HEAD TO BILLY HAYES INVITATIONAL
May 9, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders are headed to the Billy Hayes
Invitational, hosted by Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana
on Sunday, May 11th. The 14 Invaders scheduled to compete are led
by World Championship Bronze Medalist Mary Danner and Drake Relays
Champion Linise Gordon.
Danner, a 2003 World Indoor Bronze Medalist (4x400 relay), and
teammate Pristina Jones will compete in the 200 and 400. Amber
Plowden will compete in the 100 and 200.
Linise Gordon, the 2003 Drake Relays Heptathlon Champion, and
teammate Brandon Hon will compete in the 100/110 hurdles and
400 hurdles. Ebbie Metzinger and Carri Long, both graduates of
Purdue University, will compete in the pole vault and high jump,
respectively.
Hope Sanders and Jacob Koczman, both of whom are 2003 USATF Indoor
Nationals Qualifiers, will compete in the 800. Jeff Minks and
Daniel Walden will compete in the 1500.
Invaders' national class Decathletes competing in open events
at Billy Hayes include Brendon Falconer (110H, LJ), Alex Sprague
(110H, LJ, SP), and Jason Wilson (PV, SP, DT, JT). Both Falconer
and Sprague competed at the 2003 USATF Indoor National
Championships.
Billy Hayes Invitational:
http://www.iuhoosiers.com
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018.
INVADERS ADD THREE-TIME NAIA CHAMPION SHARLINE MAXWELL
May 7, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added three-time NAIA Champion
sprinter Sharline Maxwell, of Briar Cliff University and Sherwood High
School (MD), to the team's roster.
Maxwell, currently a citizen of Jamaica, has a career best of 53.63 in
the 400 and 6.09 in the long jump. Maxwell is a 12 Time All-American in
the 200, 400, long jump and 4x400 relay.
Maxwell holds 12 Briar Cliff school records (Indoors - 200, 400, 500,
long jump, triple jump, pentathlon) (Outdoor - 100H, 200, 400, long
jump, triple jump, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay).
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Maxwell has phenomal potential and
talent. Her addition to the team solidifies the growth of our rapidly
growing sprints group."
Maxwell, as one of three current NAIA Champions on the team, joins a
roster that includes five Olympians and a team history that includes
seven individual National Champions, one World Champion, one American
Record, and have had three American Record Holders, or former record
holders, to wear the Invaders' uniform since the formation of the
club in 1998.
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018.
INVADERS ADD OLYMPIAN SAMUEL OKANTEY, TRIPLE JUMP
May 5, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added Olympian Samuel
Okantey, a citizen of Ireland formerly of Ghana, to the team's
roster. Okantey, a top flight triple jumper, competed for both
Central Michigan University and Syracuse University during his
NCAA career.
Okantey's international career highlights include top finishes
throughout Europe at meets in Germany, France, Sweden, Switzerland,
and Spain. Okantey was second at the African Championships in 2000.
Okantey also qualified for the 2000 Olympic Games.
Okantey, as an NCAA All-American, has the unique distinction of
capturing conference titles in both the Mid-American Conference
and the Big East Conference. Okantey also holds school records at
Syracuse in the triple jump.
Okantey will be the fifth Olympian, to wear the Invaders' uniform
since the formation of the club in 1998. Okantey joins Olympians
Tanko Braimah (400m relay), Stevimir Ercegovac (Shot Put), DeDee
Nathan (Heptathlon), and Kirt Thompson (Javelin).
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Okantey has a tremendous amount of
talent and has a very unique background. His addition to the team
will bring an immediate boost to the depth of our jumps group."
Harger added, "Okantey brings additional experience and enthusiasm
to our training environment. We look forward to supporting his
quest for international success throughout his athletic career."
In addition to adding a fifth Olympian to the team's roster, the
Invaders have also produced 7 individual National Champions, one
World Champion, one American Record, and have had three American
Record Holders, or former record holders, to wear the Invaders'
uniform since the formation of the club in 1998.
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018.
INVADERS PLACE 11 IN TOP 5 AT BUTLER TWILIGHT, JESSE OWENS CLASSIC
May 4, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders placed 11 in the top 5 at the
Butler Twilight and the Jesse Owens Classic on Saturday, May 3rd, 2003.
The Invaders were led by wins at the Butler Twilight by Olympian
Kirt Thompson in the javelin (71.66) and Brandon Hon in the 110
hurdles (14.37). Mary Danner was a member of Team USA's winning
4x400 relay (3:40.62) at the Jesse Owens Classic.
Danner, a 2003 World Indoor Bronze Medalist (4x400 relay), also
finished second in the Invitational 400 (54.04) while teammate
Olympian Tanko Braimah took second in both the 100 and 200
Invitational events with times of 10.45 and 21.06, respectively.
Hon, a 2003 USATF Indoor Nationals Qualifier in the 60 hurdles,
also took second in the Twilight's 400 hurdles with a career
best time of 51.11. This is the second time in two weeks that
Hon has improved his career best in the 400 hurdles.
At the Butler Twilight, Invaders' national class Decathletes Alex
Sprague was fourth in the shot put (15.34), while getting work in
the 110 hurdles (15.30), the discus (42.40), the 100 (11.42); and
Brendon Falconer was fourth in the 110 hurdles (14.86) and competed
in the pole vault (4.25), the shot put (12.87), and the discus (38.04).
Amber Plowden was fourth in the 200 (25.09) and sixth in the 100
(12.30). In the 400, Jacob Koczman was seventh (48.83), Hope Sanders
was 11th (58.13). In the 800, Eddie Nehus was 5th (1:53.50), Jeff
Minks was ninth (1:54.03), and Daniel Walden was 12th (1:54.96).
Butler University - Butler Twilight:
http://www.butlersports.com
The Jesse Owens Track Classic:
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018.
INVADERS PLACE 3 IN TOP 10 AT INDIANAPOLIS MINI MARATHON
May 3, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders penetrated the top ten at the
2003 Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on May 3rd with
Mary Duerbeck, Geoffrey Fleming, and Leah Nilsson taking 7th, 8th,
and 10th, respectively in the 1/2 Marathon.
The 27th edition of the Indy MINI is the largest 1/2 Marathon
in the United States with over 25,000 participants. The course
loops the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the world-famous
Indy 500, Brickyard 400 and the United States Grand Prix.
Duerbeck, making her career debut in the 1/2 Marathon, finished
as the top Indiana finisher in seventh place with a time of 1:20:15.
Duerbeck opened her outdoor track season last weekend at the Drake
Relays
finishing fourth in the 10,000. Nilsson, a runner-up in the 5,000
at the 2002 USATF National Club Track & Field Championships, was eighth
with a time of 1:21:32 and was the second Indiana finisher. USATF
national steeplechase qualifier ('01), Judy Porter, finished 18th just
six months after giving birth to her first child.
Fleming, a graduate of Purdue University, finished in eighth
place with a career best time of 1:06:53 and was the second Indiana
finisher. Fleming was 15th at the World University Games Half Marathon
in 1999 (1:07:38) and was eighth at the USATF National Cross Country
Club Championships in 2002. Teammate Paul Howarth, a graduate of
Butler University, just missed the top ten with a 12th place finish
in 1:09:07 as the third place Indiana finisher. Howarth was third
at the 2002 USATF National Club Championships in the 1500.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "The Indy MINI is our community's
signature road race and several of our athletes were motivated to run in
front of their home town crowd." Harger added, "Indianapolis does an
outstanding job every year with this event and with our planned growth
in developing elite marathoners and long distance runners, we are
excited about returning next year with the intent of breaking into the
top 5 in both the men's and women's races."
2003 Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon:
http://www.500festival.com/
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018.
INVADERS TO COMPETE AT BUTLER TWILIGHT, JESSE OWENS CLASSIC
May 1, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders will compete at the Butler Twilight
and the Jesse Owens Classic on Saturday, May 3rd, 2003.
At the Jesse Owens Classic, Invaders' Mary Danner, a 2003 World Indoor
Bronze Medalist (4x400 relay), will compete in the Invitational 400
and as a member of Team USA's 4x400 relay. Olympian Tanko Braimah will
compete in the Invitational 100 and 200. The 18th Jesse Owens Track and
Field Classic, with over 1,000 athletes competing, Saturday May 3rd
will be held in the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
At the Butler Twilight, the Invaders are led by Olympian Kirt Thompson
competing in the javelin throw. Teammates also competing include Amber
Plowden (100, 200), Shannon Gallagher (100, 100H, PV), Brandon Hon
(110H, 400H), Hope Sanders (400), Jacob Koczman (400), Eddie Nehus
(800), Jeff Minks (800), and Daniel Walden (800).
Invaders' national class Decathletes competing in open events at the
Butler Twilight include Alex Sprague (100, 200, 110H, DT, JT, SP),
Brendon Falconer (110H, PV, LJ, DT, SP), and Jason Wilson (PV, DT, JT,
SP). Both Sprague and Falconer competed at the 2003 USATF Indoor
National Championships.
Butler University - Butler Twilight:
http://www.butlersports.com
The Jesse Owens Track Classic
http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018.
