INDIANA INVADERS ADD NATIONAL RECORD HOLDER
November 25, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added long jumper
Patricia Soman, of Ball State University and Bishop O'Connell
HS (VA), to the team's roster. Soman's career best of 6.38 meters,
set at the 2003 Drake Relays, is the National Record for her
country of origin, the Ivory Coast.
Soman, a two-time NCAA All-American, was eighth in both the long jump
and triple jump at the 2003 NCAA Indoor Championships and also finished
ninth at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the triple jump. Soman
holds six school records at Ball State University (4x200, 4x400i, 4x400,
SMR, long jump, and triple jump).
Soman joins a team roster that includes Ball State graduates
Zach Riley, Linise Gordon, and Natasha Lothery. Together this
group along with Adam Shunk, a Ball State transfer to the
University of North Carolina, collectively hold 11 indoor
school records and seven outdoor school records.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Soman is a very exciting prospect
in that she is so young in terms of total training years for her
event. She will look for some big jumps during the outdoor season
as we head toward Athens. She will likely open up her 2004 season
outdoors in April." Added Harger, "Soman will look toward
improvement on her Ivory Coast national record as she looks
to meet the Olympic Games qualifying standard of 6.55."
The Invaders have a team history that includes seven individual
National Champions, one World Champion, one American Record, and
have had two American Record Holders or former record holders wear
the Invaders' uniform since the formation of the club in 1998.
INDIANA INVADERS ADD NCAA CHAMPION ADAM SHUNK
November 20, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added 2003 NCAA High Jump
Champion Adam Shunk, a graduate of the University of North Carolina and
Delta High School (IN), to the team's roster. Shunk's best performance
in the high jump is 2.25 meters.
Shunk, runner-up at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2002 prior to
winning in 2003, is a five-time NCAA All-American, a GTE Academic
All-American, and a four-time conference champion. Shunk was ranked
12th in the US in 2002 and has steadily improved from his US ranking
of 31st place in 2000.
In high school, Shunk was ranked number one in the United States his
senior year during the indoor season and ranked in the top 10 during
the outdoor season. Shunk was a USA Junior Championship Qualifier,
an Indiana High School State Championship runner-up, and set the
Delta High School record in the high jump.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Shunk is a home grown talent and
is excited to be back home in Indiana. He is an athlete with a great
opportunity to be competitive during next year's Olympic season. We're
definitely excited to add an athlete of Shunk's caliber to the roster."
Shunk is one of nine Invaders already qualified for the 2004 US Olympic
Trials as he looks to add to an Indiana Invaders team history that
includes seven individual National Champions, one World Champion, and
one American Record, since the formation of the club in 1998.
INDIANA INVADERS ADD 800 RUNNER LINDSEY SCHNELL
November 18, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added 800 meter runner
Lindsey Schnell, a graduate of Marian College (IN) and Monrovia HS
(IN), to the team's roster. After marriage and a transition to
post-collegiate life, Schnell turned in a break-through season in 2003
with major improvements at 800 & 1500.
The former Linsey Tansel, Schnell, a runner-up in the 800 at the 2000
NAIA Indoor Championships, joins a rapidly growing and very successful
middle distance initiative by the Indiana Invaders that has yielded
significant results after the first season of emphasis. Schnell also
holds the 800 record at Marian College. Schnell was also a three time
Indiana High School State Championship Qualifier while at Monrovia
High School ('95-'97).
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Schnell is an exciting addition to the
team as she adds additional depth to our middle distance development
program. Her unique lower profile development as a national class
athlete and personal hunger to improve will be an asset to the entire
middle distance group along with serving her very well in the coming
seasons. Schnell's continued training and rapid rate of progress
under Coach Robert Thomas give her an excellent opportunity to attain
a US Olympic Trials Qualifying Standard (2:04.90) very early in her
post-collegiate career as a national caliber athlete."
INDIANA INVADERS ADD HURDLER ADRIAN SWANSON
November 13, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added hurdler Adrian Swanson,
a graduate of Indiana State University and John Adams HS (South Bend, IN),
to the team's roster. Swanson has a career best of 50.24 in the 400
hurdles.
Swanson finished 18th in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor
Championships in 2002. Swanson finished 18th, 17th, and 23rd at
the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2001, 2002,
and 2003, respectively.
Swanson was an Indiana High School State Champion in the 300 hurdles in
1997 and runner-up in 1996. Swanson was also a USA Junior National
Championship Qualifier in 1997.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Swanson met the 2004 US Olympic Trials
qualifying standard in his event in 2002 and will seek that level of
performance early in the upcoming season. Swanson has demonstrated
substantial talent and with additional experience and continued training
under renowned hurdle coach, John McNichols, we expect him to move up to
the next level during the coming Olympic year."
Swanson joins a roster that looks to improve on its team history that
includes seven individual National Champions, one World Champion, one
American Record since the formation of the club in 1998. The Invaders
currently have eight athletes qualified for the 2004 US Olympic Trials.
INDIANA INVADERS ADD NAIA ALL-AMERICAN JAMEY SPERLE
November 11, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added seven-time NAIA
All-American sprinter Jamey Sperle, a graduate of Dakota Wesleyan
University and Harding County HS (SD), to the team's roster. Sperle has a
career best of 10.34 in the 100, 20.84 in the 200, and 47.00 in the 400.
Sperle placed third in the 200 and fourth in the 55m at the 2003 NAIA
Indoor Championships. At the 2003 NAIA Outdoor Championships
Sperle was the national runner-up in the 200 and the seventh place finisher
in the 100. At the 2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships,
Sperle finished 12th in the 200.
In addition to holding eleven school records at Dakota Wesleyan, Sperle
was a high school state champion in the 400 in 1998 and helped set a
state record in the 4x200 relay.
Sperle has represented the United States during the 2001 season as a
member of the US National Bobsled Team, competing in the two-man
and four-man bobsled events. Sperle's team finished second at the Verizon
Wireless US National Trials in both the two-man and four-man
bobsled events.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Sperle's addition to the team presents
a great opportunity for the team to have an athlete in the men’s sprints
during next year's Olympic Trials. He has excellent potential and talent
and we're excited to have him with us in Indianapolis. Training under
Coach Robert Thomas will provide him with the critical experience and
guidance needed for a young post-collegiate athlete in an Olympic year."
Sperle joins a roster that includes four Olympians and a team history
that includes seven individual National Champions, one World Champion,
one American Record, and have had two American Record Holders or
former record holders wear the Invaders' uniform since the formation
of the club in 1998. The Invaders have eight athletes currently qualified
for the 2004 US Olympic Trials.
COURSE PREVIEW: 2004 USA Cross Country Championships/World CC Trials
November 6, 2003
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders will host a pre-championship course preview/race for the 2004 USA
Cross Country Championships on November 16, 2003 in downtown Indianapolis, IN. The course preview/race
will also include a tour of the meet headquarters and meet hotel.
The Hansons-Brooks ODP team, along with the Indiana Invaders, will bring their men's and women's athletes
for this event in preparation for the USA Cross Country Championships and World Cross Country Team Trials
on February 7-8th, 2004. Both groups plan to run athletes in time trial/workout types of efforts for this
event.
The course preview is open to the public and hand timing will be provided for those wishing to race/time
trial/workout on the course. There will be no entry fee. There will be one common start time for men and
women (1:30 PM). Splits will be called every kilometer and any distance may be run from 2K through 10K.
ENTRY: confirm intentions by noon on the 14th of November by sending an
e-mail (include your name, phone
number, and number of athletes and athlete support personnel) to Greg
Harger (email). Directions to the initial meeting place (12 noon EST)
will be returned
as confirmation via e-mail or phone.
NOTE: The Back-Up Course will be used for the championships due to construction on the Championship Course
which will not be completed by February. Details on this course will be clarified in the coming days on
the official meet web site.
USA Cross Country Championships - General Information:
www.indianainvaders.com/meets/2004/04_world_xc_trials1.asp
For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg
Harger at 317 289-4018
