BIG BLUE NATIONAL INVITATIONAL, TOP MILERS COMPETING
May 25, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) In this Olympic Season, 50 years after Roger Bannister
first broke the sub-four-minute mile barrier, the Indiana Invaders
will host Wild Bill's Metric Mile race at the Big Blue National
Invitational, on the campus of Hillsdale College, in Hillsdale
Michigan on June 11-12th, 2004.
Wild Bill's Metric Mile, to be contested on June 12th, currently
features some of America's top milers including Olympian Paul McMullen,
a native of Michigan and graduate of Eastern Michigan University.
McMullen was the 1996 Olympic Trials champion and was 10th at the
2001 World Championships. McMullen has a career best of 3:33.89
in the Metric Mile. McMullen headlines a field of nine athletes
currently under 3:43 this Olympic season. The Olympic Trials
Qualifying standard is 3:43.00. Challenging McMullen will be several
of America's top milers including Clay Schwabe and Dan Wilson and
the rest of the field of eight athletes currently under 3:43 this
Olympic season. The Olympic Trials Qualifying standard is 3:43.00.
Wilson was ranked 10th in the US last season.
Initial Entry Lists and Athlete Profiles:
http://www.nftl.net/events/2004/04_big_blue_status.asp?g=1&e=2
For anyone that has ever fantasized of running a sub-4 minute mile,
or standing atop the awards stand at the Olympic Games, this is a
unique opportunity to see the athletes that are training to perform
at this level as they will come to the Hillsdale community for one
purpose - as a final preparation for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
This event is a "Family Friendly, Spectator Friendly" competition
featuring High Performance Entertainment on the track and is produced
by NFTL, Inc. working with the Hillsdale Track & Field program. This
will be the final opportunity for fans to experience the spirit of
this Olympic Season in Michigan.
The High Performance Track & Field Series Director Greg Harger said,
"This is an incredible opportunity for fans and athletes alike, as
there will be some outstanding performances and competitive efforts
featuring some of America's top milers. McMullen will be competing
in front of his home state crowd for the final time this season."
Harger added, "Hillsdale's outstanding Mondo surfaced facility will
be a great place to compete with fast times."
Big Blue National Invitational Information:
http://www.nftl.net/events/2004/big_blue.asp
INDIANA INVADERS HIGH PERFORMANCE TRACK SERIES
May 18, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders' High Performance Track & Field
Series has added an invitational track & field meet, the Big Red
National Invitational, to be held in Bloomington Indiana on June 26th
and June 29th, 2004. As the final event in the Invaders' High
Performance Track & Field Series, the meet takes place less than
two weeks before the US Olympic Team Trials and immediately before
the USATF National Club Track & Field Championships.
The Big Red National Invitational, hosted by Indiana University Track
& Field and the Indiana Invaders, is a two day invitational-only high
performance track & field meet featuring select events. This event is
a "Family Friendly, Spectator Friendly" competition featuring a high
energy presentation style produced by NFTL, Inc., an innovative track
& field production company.
Fans have an opportunity to see Olympic Trials qualifying efforts
that will include top athletes from the NIKE Farm Team, the
Wisconsin Runner Racing Team, and the Indiana Invaders.
The Big Red National Invitational offers athletes multiple
opportunities to hit Olympic qualifying standards just prior to the
USATF National Club Track & Field Championships, on Friday & Saturday
July 2-3. With the qualifying window for the Olympic Trials closing
on July 1st, the Club Championships have been given an exemption
beyond this window and are designated as the "Final" last-chance
opportunity for Olympic Trials qualifying efforts. This means there
are four days of Olympic Qualifying efforts, top athletes, top teams,
and the top team scored track & field championship in the United
States to be held in Bloomington, Indiana over the course of 7 days.
The USATF National Club Track & Field Championships are also hosted
by the Indiana Invaders.
Final details on the Big Red National Invitational will be released
on May 19th. The Indiana Invaders' High Performance Track & Field
Series also includes the Big Blue National Invitational, a finals-only
event, that takes place on June 11-12th, 2004 in Hillsdale, Michigan.
The High Performance Track & Field Series Director Greg Harger said,
"This is an incredible opportunity for fans and athletes alike, as
there will be some outstanding performances and competitive efforts
featuring some of America's top athletes. With commitments from the
NIKE Farm Team and the Wisconsin Runner Racing Team and numerous top
collegiate athletes from the Midwest, we have the beginnings of a
historic event taking shape." Harger added, "It will be an awesome
four days of competition. Olympians will face future Olympians,
veterans will square up against rookies, Champions will be crowned
at the USATF Club Championships and we will likely see some unexpected
break-through performances from these athletes. This is the last
opportunity for fans to experience the spirit of this Olympic Season
in the State of Indiana." Harger also commented, "Our relationship
with producing this event with Indiana University Track & Field will
facilitate future events within our Indiana Track & Field community
beyond the obvious opportunities of growing this High Performance
Track & Field Series in the coming years.
BIG RED National Invitational Information:
http://www.nftl.net/events/2004/big_red.asp
Big Blue National Invitational Information:
http://www.nftl.net/events/2004/big_blue.asp
Athlete & Team Registration for the Indiana Invaders' High
Performance Track & Field Series is available online via NFTL:
http://www.nftl.net/meets/index.asp
INVADERS' METZINGER HITS OLYMPIC TRIALS QUALIFYING STANDARD
May 9, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Ebbie Metzinger hit the 2004 US
Olympic Trials Qualifying Standard with a career best jump of 4.30
meters in the pole vault at the 2004 Coca Cola Modesto Relays in
Modesto, California on Saturday, May 8th, 2004.
Metzinger, a graduate of Purdue University, is now ranked 12th on
the US performance list in the pole vault. Metzinger was a three
time Big Ten Collegiate Champion.
Francesca Green tied for second place in the Invitational Long Jump
of 6.33 meters, narrowly missing the US Olympic Trials qualifying
standard of 6.35 meters. Green is now ranked eighth on the US
performance list. Green finished eighth during the indoor season
at the USA Indoor Nationals Championships.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Ebbie is poised for big jumps as
we head closer to the Olympic Trials in July. She has the talent
and hunger for success in her event." Harger added, "Green is back.
She's back after basically three years of not competing and almost
broke her career best of 6.36 meters. Her focus is on an "A"
standard jump before the Olympic Trials."
The Invaders currently have 12 athletes qualified for the
US Olympic Team Trials.
2004 Coca Cola Modesto Relays:
http://www.modestorelays.org
INVADERS' LONG HITS OLYMPIC TRIALS "A" STANDARD
May 8, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Carri Long hit the 2004 US Olympic
Trials "A" Qualifying Standard with a career best jump of 1.88 meters
to win the Billy Hayes Invitational, hosted by Indiana University
in Bloomington, Indiana on Friday, May 7th, 2004.
Long, a graduate of Purdue University, is now ranked seventh on the US
performance list in the high jump. Along with teammate Adam Shunk,
ranked third on US performance list in the high jump (2.27), the
Invaders will have a strong presence at the US Olympic Team Trials
High Jump competition in July.
Brandon Hon, narrowly missed the Olympic Trials qualifying standard
of 50.50, in taking third in the 400 hurdles with a time of 50.66
after recovering from a hitting a hurdle and almost hitting the
ground late in the race. Fellow 400 hurdler, Adrian Swanson, took
fourth in the 400 hurdles (51.32) after also experiencing significant
contact with a hurdle. Jacob Koczman posted a 1:49.96 in the 800 to
take fifth while Hope Sanders captured a win in the 800 with a time
of 2:10.49 after running a 56.59 second 400 meter race earlier in
the meet.
Jamey Sperle took third in the 200 (21.40) and fourth in the 400
(47.46). Sharline Maxwell-Divis was third and Amber Plowden
was fourth in the 200 with times of 24.48 and 24.65, respectively.
Saturday, May 8th in the 2004 Indianapolis Life 500 Festival
Mini-Marathon, Donnie Fellows and teammate John Ngigi took fifth
and seventh with times of 1:06:43 and 1:07:17, respectively.
Fellows, competing in his first 1/2 marathon, is already qualified
for the US Olympic Team Trials in the 10,000. Kim Lorenz was 10th
in the women's race with a career best time of 1:20:34.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Long did an excellent job in
hitting the 'A' Standard. This is as much a mental breakthrough for
her as it is technical. Clearly she has room for more improvements
before the Olympic Trials." Harger added, "Hon and Swanson continue to
show glimmers of a pending emergence at the next level in the 400
hurdles. Their ability to manage technical improvements in the way
they apply their fitness will determine whether they are in the 49's
next week or next month. They will be there for July"
Billy Hayes Invitational:
http://iuhoosiers.com/womenstrackandfield/results/'04/BillyHayesResults.html
2003 Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon:
http://www.500festival.com/
INVADERS HEAD TO BILLY HAYES INVITATIONAL
May 6, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders are headed to the Billy Hayes
Invitational, hosted by Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana
on Friday, May 7th, 2004. The nine Invaders scheduled to compete
are led by Olympic Trials Qualifiers Carri Long and Brandon Hon.
Long, a graduate of Purdue University, is seeking to hit the Olympic
Trials "A" qualifying standard of 1.88 while Hon and Adrian Swanson
seek the Olympic Trials qualifying standard of 50.50 in the 400
hurdles. Hon is already qualified for the US Olympic Trials in
the 110 high hurdles. Long, Hon, and Swanson are just within
striking range of hitting their goals.
Olympic Trials Qualifier Jacob Koczman, with a career best of 1:47.72,
will compete against a very competitive 800 meter field. Olympic
Trials Qualifier Hope Sanders, a graduate of Warren Central H.S.
(Ind.), will be running in the 400 and 800. Sanders has a career
best of 2:03.48. Olympian Kirt Thompson, coming off his recent
victory at the Drake Relays, will throw the javelin.
Jamey Sperle and Sharline Maxwell-Divis will both see action in
the 200 and 400. Pristina Jones will compete in the long jump.
Pole vaulters Shannon Gallagher and Ebbie Metzinger will see
action in the Invitational pole vault at the Modesto Relays along
with Francesca Green competing in the Invitational long jump.
The Invaders will also take to the streets of Indianapolis on
Saturday May 8th, to compete in the largest 1/2 Marathon in the
United States, the 2004 Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.
Olympic Trials Qualifier Donnie Fellows (10,000) and teammates
John Ngigi & Kim Lorenz will be competing. In 2003 the Invaders
placed three in the top 10 at the Indy MINI. The 28th edition
of the Indy MINI, with over 30,000 participants, loops through
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the world-famous Indy
500, Brickyard 400 and the United States Grand Prix.
Billy Hayes Invitational:
http://www.iuhoosiers.com
2003 Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon:
http://www.500festival.com/
INVADERS' SHUNK SECOND AT IAAF GRAND PRIX
May 5, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Adam Shunk captured runner-up honors
with a career best performance in the high jump (2.27 meters) at the
1st Annual Grand Prix Cristobal de Leon Santo Domingo international
competition in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on May 1st.
Shunk, taking second on misses to Nathan Leeper in his first IAAF
Grand Prix meet, is now ranked third on the 2004 US performance
List and though early in the international season, Shunk is now also
third on the world list of performances in the high jump. Shunk,
building on the momentum of last weekend's performance of tying
for second the Martinique IAAF Grand Prix II international
competition, is gearing up for the US Olympic Team Trials in July.
Shunk also tied for second place at the 2004 USA Indoor Championships
after winning the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2003.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Shunk had a great weekend and is
putting himself on track to be a contender at the US Olympic Trials
in July. Shunk had good looks at 2.30 meters and with another
training phase could be ready for some great outings when it
counts later this season."
HANSONS MIDWEST DISTANCE SOLUTION, BIG BLUE NATIONAL INVITATIONAL
May 3rd, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) This Olympic Season, some of America's top athletes
will compete in Hillsdale Michigan, on the campus of Hillsdale
College, on June 10-12th, 2004. This three day high performance
event, taking place just four weeks before the 2004 U.S. Olympic
Trials, will feature the reigning USATF National Club Champions
in track & field and cross country respectively, the
Indiana Invaders and Michigan's Hansons-Brooks ODP.
This event is a "Family Friendly, Spectator Friendly" competition
featuring High Performance Entertainment on the track and will be
produced by NFTL, Inc. working with the Hillsdale Track & Field
program.
The Hansons Midwest Distance Solution, on Thursday June 10th, will
be run in the evening under the lights and will be a premiere
distance festival featuring the 800, 1500, 3000 Steeple, 5000,
and 10,000. This is a unique opportunity for fans to see some of
America's top distance athletes compete. The Hansons-Brooks ODP
have a growing number of athletes qualified for the 2004 U.S.
Olympic Team Trials.
The Olympic Trials qualifying efforts will continue into the weekend
with The Big Blue National Invitational, featuring two days of intense
Olympic Trials qualifying efforts on Friday & Saturday June 11-12th.
The event is a "finals only" invitational with only select events,
including the decathlon and heptathlon, will be contested over the
two days. Defending Olympic Trials Champion DeDee Nathan is expected
to compete in the heptathlon along with 2000 Olympic Trials Decathlete,
Brendon Falconer competing in the men's multi-event. The Friday
session will feature international relay teams and the Saturday
session will be highlighted by "Wild Bill's Magical Metric Miles."
The Invaders also have an expanding roster of athletes qualified for
the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and will be out in full force
for this exciting event.
For anyone that has ever fantasized of running a sub-4 minute mile,
or standing atop the awards stand at the Olympic Games, this is a
unique opportunity to see the athletes that are training to perform
at this level as they will come to the Hillsdale community for one
purpose - as a final preparation for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Meet Director Greg Harger said, "Hillsdale's outstanding Mondo
surfaced facility will be a great place to compete." Harger added,
"This will be a high performance event that will bring the
excitement, and the spirit of the Olympic season to the Hillsdale
community. Fans will be able to see and touch these athletes
as they make final preparations for the Olympic Trials."
Hansons Midwest Distance Solution:
http://www.nftl.net/events/2004/hansons.asp
Big Blue National Invitational:
http://www.nftl.net/events/2004/big_blue.asp
INVADERS' HON HITS CAREER BEST AT JESSE OWENS CLASSIC
May 2nd, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders led by hurdlers Brandon Hon and
Adrian Swanson, took first and third in the 400 hurdles with times of
50.63 and 50.83, at the 2004 Jesse Owens Track and Field Classic,
hosted by Ohio State University, on Saturday May 1st, 2004.
Hon's time of 50.63 in the 400 hurdles was a career best and was
0.13 seconds away from the qualifying standard for the US Olympic
Team Trials in July. Hon is already an Olympic Trials Qualifier
in the 110 hurdles.
Amber Plowden, competing as a part of Team USA's High Performance
Relay Project's 4x100 relay, ran the anchor leg of Team USA's winning
4x100 relay team with a time of 44.58. Plowden also placed fourth
the Invitational 100 (11.73).
Due to weather conditions, which resulted in the cancellation of the
meet's final two events, the Invaders' 4x400 men's relay team did not
see action against Team USA's High Performance Relay Project 4x400
relay team. Jamey Sperle took fifth in the Invitational 400 and Jacob
Koczman saw action in the Invitational 800 finishing eighth. Prior to
the 400 hurdles, Hon competed in the 110 hurdles but crashed hard to
the track on the 7th hurdle.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Both Hon and Swanson are very close to
Qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the 400 hurdles. Both look forward
to technically cleaning up their respective races and dropping into the
sub-50 club very soon." Harger added, "Plowden also gained some very
valuable experience working in with USATF's High Performance Relay
Project."
Over 120 high school and collegiate teams competed at this year's
19th annual running of the Jesse Owens Track and Field Classic
Jesse Owens Track & Field Classic Results:
http://ohiostatebuckeyes.collegesports.com/sports/c-track/stats/2003-2004/050104.html
