INDIANA INVADERS ANNOUNCE 2005 HIGH PERFORMANCE SERIES
November 30, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders will host the 2005 American Milers
Club High Performance Track & Field Series consisting of five days of
competition during June and July. The series will be produced and managed by NFTL, Inc.
The American Milers Club High Performance Series is an outgrowth of
meets hosted by the Indiana Invaders in 2004 to meet the needs of Elite
Athlete Development programs from throughout the country. The 4 days of
competition held in 2004 produced 43 Olympic Trials qualifying marks
including some of the deepest 800 and 1500 meter races in the USA
during
the 2004 post-collegiate season. Formal commitments from teams like the
NIKE Farm Team, Team USA Monterey Bay, Team USA Minnesota,
Hansons-Brooks ODP, Wisconsin Runner RT, and Zap Fitness are expected
to
be announced in the coming weeks. The competition schedule will be
focused on the 800 and 1500 with a limited number of additional events
on each of the different days of the series.
Meet Series Director Greg Harger
said, "We're excited about the
potential of this series and it's ability to provide high performance
competition opportunities for America's top middle distance and
distance
athletes. The initial commitments by some of America's top Future
Olympians in both Middle Distance and Distance events and their coaches
to this series is significant. This will be a unique series intended to
allow fans and Future Olympians an opportunity to see and interact
personally with many of America's best." Harger added, "As we prepare
for 2005 and beyond, we're looking forward to growing this series and
making it an annual event on the domestic schedule."
2005 High Performance Track & Field Series dates:
June 10 or 11 TBA, Michigan
July 6 TBA, Indiana
July 12 TBA, Indiana
July 14 TBA, Indiana
July 16 TBA, Indiana
Additional details will be released in early 2005.
American Milers Club:
http://www.americanmilersclub.com
INDIANA INVADERS ADD STEEPLECHASER LESLEY READ
November 23, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added NCAA All-American Lesley
Read, a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, to the team's
roster. Read has a career best of 10:18.55 in the 3,000 steeplechase.
Read, a graduate of Dover High School (NH), was a 2003 NCAA Cross
Country Academic All-American while finishing 13th in the highly
competitive NCAA Cross Country’s North East Region. Read set UNH school
records in the 3,000 steeplechase and 4x800 relay. In high school, Read
set records in the 4x800 relay, 1,000, and triple jump.
In 2004, Read was honored with the America East Athlete of the Year
award and as the UNH Student Athlete of the Year.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Read's addition to the roster brings
another athlete to the team that is young in training years and total
training miles which leaves a very strong up-side for her and our
growing women's distance group." Harger added, "We are looking forward
to exploring specific steeple training in the near future which could
also yield significant progression for Read in her early post-collegiate
career on the track."
INDIANA INVADERS ADD NCAA ALL-AMERICAN ANNA AOKI
November 21, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added NCAA All-American Anna
Aoki, a graduate of the University of Washington, to the team's roster.
Aoki has a career best of 16:01.20 in the 5,000.
Aoki, a graduate of Fort Vancouver High School (WA), was a two-time
Pacific 10 Conference Champion in the 10,000 and was a six time NCAA
Championship competitor. In 2000, Aoki took ninth in the 10,000 at the
NCAA Outdoor Championships and was 38th at the NCAA Cross Country
Championships.
Aoki was also honored as the 2001 NCAA Washington State Woman of the
Year and University of Washington Athlete of the Year in 2000.
In high school, Aoki set school records in the 1600, 3000, & 3200.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Aoki will return to competition as a
member of the Invaders after three years of not competing since her
college graduation. She is a formidable competitor and we're excited
that she's made a commitment to the team." Harger added, "Aoki's return
to high level competition will not take as long as some might think
given the time away from the sport she has experienced."
INDIANA INVADERS ADD NCAA ALL-AMERICAN HUNTER SPENCER
November 18, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added three-time NCAA
All-American Hunter Spencer, of the University of Kentucky, to the
team's roster. Spencer has a career best of 1:48.29 in the 800 and
3:40.91 in the 1500.
Spencer, a graduate of E.O.Smith High School (CT), was third in the mile at the
2002 NCAA Indoor Championships and fifth in 2003.
In high school, Hunter was the Connecticut State Champion in the 800 and
was also the Connecticut Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year.
Team Director Greg Harger
said, "Spencer's addition to the team is significant as this leaves our
men’s middle distance crew just one or two athletes from being
completed for this Olympiad." Harger added, "Spencer’s early training
responses show some potential for a possible competitive outing in the
4K USA World Cross Country Trials set for this coming February while we
build his specific base for the 1500 later in the outdoor track
season."
INVADERS' SPENCER TOPS GVH CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL FIELD
November 16, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders' Hunter Spencer won the men's 8K
title at the Genesee Valley Cross Country Invitational on November 14,
2004.
Spencer, an All-American from the University of Kentucky and E.O. Smith
HS (CT), had a winning time of 24:31 in a tactical race over the
Genesee Valley Park set to be the site of the 2005 USATF National Club
Championships.
The Invaders women's team took second (61 pts) to the Toronto Olympic
Club (48 pts) in the women's team battle. The Invaders were led by
Keisha Banks taking
third overall in the 6K race. Banks was joined by Lesley Read (5th),
Heather May (8th), Jessica Textoris (14th), and Hope Sanders (31st).
Team Director Greg Harger
said, "Hunter ran a very sound tactical race. In his first few months
here in Indy he has shown some potential for a possible competitive
outing in the 4K USA World Cross Country Trials set for this coming
February while we build his specific base for the 1500 later in the
outdoor track season." Harger added, "The women's race was a good
reference outing for 5 of our 8 athletes preparing for the USATF Club
Cross Country Championships."
GVH Cross Country Invitational
http://www.gvh.net/
INVADERS ADD DRAKE RELAYS CHAMPION, JASON BRIGGS
November 11, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added 2003 Drake Relays
collegiate 800 meter champion Jason Briggs, a graduate of Indiana State
University and Richmond High School (IN), to the team's roster.
Briggs' career best in the 800 is 1:47.00.
Briggs' career best of 1:47.00, run in Bloomington (IN), is the fastest
time ever run by a native of Indiana. Briggs competed in the 2004 US
Olympic Trials in the 800 and in the 2004 NCAA Championships. Briggs
is also a four-time Missouri Valley Conference Champion. At the
Drake Relays, Briggs won the 800 in 2003 and was on Indiana State's
winning 2001 Sprint Medley Relay team.
As a two time Indiana State High School Champion in the 800, Briggs was
also an Indiana Gatorade Athlete of the Year in 1999 and High School All
American.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Briggs has tremendous post-collegiate
potential and I expect he will look to also compete at distances beyond
800 meters." Harger added, "Briggs addition to our middle distance group
is significant in that he brings 46 second 400 speed along with no fear
of distance training into a group dynamic that is very hungry for
national and international success in the coming years."
INDIANA INVADERS PREPARE FOR 2005 AND BEYOND
November 5, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders, entering their seventh year of
competitive operations, are preparing for the 2005 competition season
after six successful years of athletic endeavors at the national and
international level of athlete development in track & field.
With five top ten finishes at the 2004 US Olympic Trials, the Invaders
led the nation with 14 athletes competing in the largest number of
events for any USATF club at 12 events. Statistically, the Invaders
track record in six years includes one American Record, one Olympic
Trials Champion, five US National Champions, 107 US National Qualifiers,
and 66 National USATF Individual Club Champions. Competively, the
Invaders have been a force to be reckoned with, as the team has captured
10 National USATF Club titles in either cross country or track & field
competition.
In preparation for 2005 and beyond, the Invaders' pursuit of a gold
medal standard will continue to include supporting athletes training to
compete at the national and international level in all track & field
events. As a USATF club with a strong resident based philosophy, the
team continues to attract an ever-growing level of athletic talent to
Indiana. For anyone that has ever fantasized about standing atop the
award stand at the Olympic Games, the Invaders will bring a taste and
experience of this to Indiana in 2005 and beyond. Based on recent
successes at the US Olympic Trials, and a youthful and talented roster
for the 2005 season the Indiana Invaders look to 2005 as the team's best
season to-date.
Situated in America's heartland, the Invaders have access to state of
art training facilities, top notch medical support, dedicated coaching,
a network of community employment options, and a community with a proud
history of supporting Olympic sports. These resources are a large part
of the equation in ultimately bringing the realization of the Olympic
Dream home to the Indiana track & field community.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "2005 will be an exciting year. As a
team we have some exciting things in the works and we are anticipating
great returns on our initial six year investment in the coming four
years." Harger added, "Our talent level going into this post-Olympic
season is far better than that of 4 years ago and we look forward to
announcing the signing of numerous additions to our young squad over
the coming weeks and months."
The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998,
presents an innovative approach to track & field by providing a
resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport
in the United States.
INDIANA INVADERS DESIGNATED AS USA ELITE DEVELOPMENT CLUB
November 3, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have been designated as a USA Elite
Development Club by the United States Governing Body of Athletics, USA
Track & Field. The designation is for the upcoming Olympiad, as
the team prepares for the next four years heading into Beijing, China
for the 2008 Olympic Games.
The Invaders' roster is comprised of elite athletes competing in USA
Track & Field National Championship competitions in Cross Country,
Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field, and the Marathon. The team serves
men
and women in all track & field events. Team members are in most
cases residents of Indiana and generally live and train in
Indianapolis. The most recent team highlight includes 16 Invaders
qualifying for the US Olympic Team Trials with five top 10 finishes in
addition to multiple US
National Club Championship Team Titles.
The "Elite Development Club" designation is one part of USA Track &
Fields' club revitalization efforts intended to expand and broaden
opportunities for America's track & field athletes to continue their
participation and development outside of and beyond university-based
track & field programs through USATF clubs.
Team Director Greg Harger
said, "This is an important step in USA
Track & Field's continued club revitalization efforts. As a model
for the sport, the Invaders appreciate the recognition and are
dedicated to taking the lead in our community with elite track &
field development." Harger added, "This designation and the authority
created for the member Elite Development Clubs sets up a unique
opportunity for the coaches and clubs truly involved in Elite
Development to have meaningful self-governance of their club
championship program."
A total of 19 clubs, from throughout the United, were designated as
"Elite Development Clubs" by USA Track & Field. The clubs represent
communities from 10 states. The list of clubs include: Asics Aggies
Running Club (CA), Atlanta Track Club (GA), Boston Athletic Association
(MA), Bryn Mawr Running Club (PA), Club Northwest (OR), NIKE Farm Team
(CA), Genesee Valley Harriers (NY), Greater Boston Track Club (MA),
Hansons-Brooks (MI), Indiana Invaders, Kansas City Smoke (MO), Lords of
the Rings (WI), Santa Monica Track Club (CA), Syracuse Chargers Track
Club (NY), Team USA Minnesota, Team Eugene (OR), Track West (CA),
Transport adidas (CA), and the Wisconsin Runner Racing Team.
The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998,
presenting an innovative approach to track & field by providing a
resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in
the United States.
