INVADERS' HON AND GREEN PROGRESS AT U.S. OPEN
May 31, 2005
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Brandon Hon and Francesca Green
competed at the Payton Jordan US Open, part of the televised VISA
Championship Series in Palo Alto, California on May 30, 2005.
Hon took sixth in the 110 hurdles with a career best of 13.63. Green
was seventh in the long jump with a season's best leap of 6.24 meters.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Hon and Green represented the Invaders
with solid competitive efforts. Both posted their best marks this season
as they are similarly working on technical changes which will yield
opportunities for their best ever performances at USA Nationals." Harger
added, "The US Open saw our seventh international or Visa Tour athlete
appearance this season which is a measure of our best high performance
season ever as a group. We have numerous remaining opportunities which
also bode well for members of our roster in 2005."
AMERICAN MILERS CLUB HIGH PERFORMANCE SERIES
May 29, 2005
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders will host the inaugural edition of
the American Milers Club High Performance Series featuring three days of
many of America's top middle distance and distance athletes hitting the
track.
In four days of similar competition held in 2004, there were 43 Olympic
Trials qualifying marks produced including some of the deepest 800 and
1500 meter races seen in the United States during the 2004
post-collegiate season. 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.
On the final competition day of the three day series, all levels of
runners can be part of one of America's newest and hottest high
performance distance running events.
All runners are encouraged to warm-up the track in the community & open
races (800 and 1500 meter races for all ages/abilities) before some of
America's finest runners “LIGHT IT UP”!
Races on July 6th and 9th will be held on Indiana University's Billy
Hayes Track in Bloomington, Indiana. Grand Finale Races will be held on
July 12th on the Center Grove High School track before hundreds of
cheering spectators. The July 6th day of competition, in addition to the
800 and 1500 meter races, will feature a national class steeplechase
race. The July 9th competition, in addition to the 800 and 1500 meter
races, will feature a national class 5,000 race.
Participating athletes and coaches from America's finest USATF Elite
Development Club's including the Big Sur Distance Project, Hansons-Brooks ODP, the NIKE Farm Team, Team USA Minnesota, Wisconsin Runner RT, and Zap Fitness are committed to pursuing World Championship "A" standards and USATF
National Championship Qualifying times for the USA National Outdoor
Championships scheduled for Indianapolis, Indiana in 2006.
HP Series Director Greg Harger said, "This American Milers Club Series
is a great opportunity to bring together some of this country's top
athletes to hit qualifying standards for the World Championships and US
Nationals which are scheduled for Indianapolis in 2006." Harger added,
"This is the second year of the concept for this series and now with
this new series name we look forward to making it an annual event on our
sport's domestic calendar."
Event Registration is available online for America's Elite Miler races.
Registration for the open and community races will be at the venue on
the day of competition.
America's Elite Milers - Event Registration
http://www.nftl.net
INVADERS' SHUNK HITS WORLD "A" STANDARD IN CARIBBEAN
May 17, 2005
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Adam Shunk hit the World Championship
"A" Standard of 2.30 meters in winning the high jump at the Felix Sánchez Invitational in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
on May 14, 2005.
Shunk, a graduate of the University of North Carolina and Delta H.S.
(IN), won the competition early and went on in the rain to clear 2.22,
2.26 and then 2.30.
During Shunk's four-meet tour of the Caribbean, he took runner-up honors
in the high jump at the Martinique IAAF Grand Prix II meet and at the
Municipal de Baie Mahault meet in Guadeloupe and won both the Jamaica
International Invitational and Felix Sánchez Invitational.
Shunk's mark now leaves him ranked second on the 2005 US performance list.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Shunk didn't let adverse weather
conditions affect his performance opportunities. In fact it's a very
good sign, he's a true competitor and demonstrated a world class
competition mentality." Harger added, "He now has the World "A"
Standard. This puts him in an excellent tactical position for jumping
his way onto the USA World Championship Team at the USA Outdoor
Championships in June."
INVADERS' SHUNK REMAINS HOT IN CARIBBEAN TOUR
May 9, 2005
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Adam Shunk dominated a world-class high
jump field with a career best winning mark of 2.28 at the Jamaica
International Invitational in Kingston, Jamaica on May 7, 2005
Shunk, a graduate of the University of North Carolina and Delta H.S.
(IN), was followed by 2004 Olympic Games Silver Medalist Matt Hemingway
in second and 2004 Olympic Trials Champion Jamie Nieto in third. Shunk
was sixth at the 2004 Olympic Trials and was third at the 2005 USA
Indoor Championships.
In the last 10 days, Shunk took runner-up honors in the high jump at the
Martinique IAAF Grand Prix II meet and at the Municipal de Baie Mahault
meet in Guadeloupe and came out on top at the Jamaica International
Invitational.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Shunk is one of several Indiana success
stories on the roster that we're very proud of. Supporting our future
Olympians is something we take very seriously and having an opportunity
to see this type of success is something that we hope to continue."
Harger added, "Shunk is a very exciting prospect for contributing to
future US National Teams. Due to academic obligations related to his
graduate studies at Ball State University he may not compete more than
once between now and the USA Outdoor Championships in June. He now has
the confidence and the marks to focus on the prospects of jump at the
World Championships with only 2 centimeters remaining to attain the "A"
standard for the World Championship team."
INVADERS' DUERINGER TAKES TOP SPOT AT INDIANPOLIS MINI-MARATHON
May 8, 2005
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders' Stephanie Dueringer won the women's
Indiana title at the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, the nation's
largest 1/2 marathon with over 30,000 participants on Saturday May 7th,
2005.
Dueringer, a graduate of Michigan State University, was seventh overall
with a career best time of 1:19:09 in this internationally competitive
race, with five of the top seven female athletes hailing from Russia,
Kenya, and the Ukraine. The 1/2 marathon course loops through the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the world-famous Indy 500,
Brickyard 400 and the United States Grand Prix.
Teammate John Ngigi, a graduate of Huntington College (IN), took 10th
place in the men's race just 10 seconds behind his time from 2004. Ngigi
was a two-time NAIA Champion after winning the 10,000 & Marathon in 2003.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Dueringer has worked long and hard to
return to national class form since being injured a couple seasons ago.
This was a rewarding day for her and could be a forecast of new personal
best efforts this outdoor track season." Harger added, "John also
overcame a recent injury and must be encouraged about his results since
he was not running just 3 months ago. This is a spectacular Indiana
event for our athletes to compete in front of their community, friends,
and neighbors along with 30,000 other people. It's one of the crown
jewels of America's road races. It's an exciting and wonderful community
event."
INVADERS' HON POSTS ANOTHER "A" STANDARD IN 110 HURDLES
May 8, 2005
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders' Brandon Hon finished second in the
Men's Special Invitational 110 meter hurdles with a career best mark of
13.67 seconds at the Jesse Owens Classic held Saturday, May 7th on Ohio
State University's campus.
Hon, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, finished second in the
110 hurdles and was third in the invitational section of the 400 hurdles
with a season's best time of 51.10 seconds. Hon wrapped up his day and
the meet by running the anchor on Team USA's winning 4x400 meter relay.
Teammate Jason Briggs, a graduate of Indiana State University, won the
Invitational 800 in his season debut at the distance with a time of
1:51.02. Briggs, a 2004 Olympic Trials qualifier has a personal best of
1:47.00 from 2004.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Hon's 110 race was rough so the time is
encouraging while his 400 hurdle race showed significant improvement as
he works to incorporate new management of technique into his race
efforts. Mastering these new elements will certainly leave Hon at the
next level in the near future." Harger added, "Brigg's initial effort
was a solid tactical race and now he will add fitness through consistent
training over the next 4-5 weeks to return to national class times."
INVADERS' DAMEION SMITH POSTS NATIONAL QUALIFYING MARK
May 8, 2005
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders' Dameion Smith crushed the USATF
Outdoor Championship "A" Qualifying Standard by almost five meters with
a toss of 70.67 meters in the hammer throw while winning the Billy Hayes
Invitational in Bloomington, Indiana May 6th.
Smith, a graduate of the University of Indianapolis and Avon High School
(IN), is the NCAA Division II record holder in the hammer throw and was
17th at the 2004 US Olympic Trials. Smith was ranked 15th in the United
States last year in the hammer throw and ranked seventh during the 2005
indoor season in the weight throw.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Smith is an exciting prospect for
contributing to the US National Teams in coming years." Harger added,
"The future is very bright for him in an event where the best begin to
perfect their technique at an older age than most events in track & field."
Smith was one of the youngest competitors in the 2004 Olympic Trials
hammer throw.
INVADERS' ADAM SHUNK DOUBLES UP IN THE CARRIBEAN
May 5, 2005
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders' Adam Shunk doubled up with two
second place finishes in the high jump at the Martinique IAAF Grand Prix
II international competition in Fort-de-France, Martinique and at the
Municipal de Baie Mahault in Guadeloupe, a Grand Prix Orange event.
At the Martinique IAAF Grand Prix II meet, Shunk jumped 2.22 to take
second in the high jump behind Víctor Moya (CUBA), and out jumped US
Olympic Trials Champion Jamie Nieto. Shunk also finished second in this
international competion in 2004.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Shunk is making his mark with his
hungry enthusiasm for competition. He is creating an opportunity for
himself where very big things are at the door step as we head toward the
USA National Championships and World Outdoor Championships in August."
Meeting IAAF du Conseil General - Fort-de-France (FRA)
http://www.iaaf.org/GP05/results/eventCode=3360/index.html
INDIANA INVADERS PLACE 2 IN TOP 5 AT DRAKE RELAYS
May 2, 2005
(INDIANAPOLIS) Invaders' Carri Long and Jacob Koczman led the team on
the final day the Drake Relays, in Des Moines, Iowa, with their fifth
place finishes in the Special Invitational High Jump (1.77) and Special
Invitational 800 (1:48.79), respectively.
Brandon Hon finished eighth in the Special Invitational 110 hurdles
(13.89) and ninth in the Special Invitational 400 hurdles (52.23).
Hunter Spencer was ninth in the Special Invitational Mile with a time of
4:08.81. Alicia Miller was 10th in the Special Invitational 400 (55.46)
and Jamie Sperle was 11th in the Special Invitational 200 (21.75).
Shannon Gallagher along with most of the field did not clear the bar in
the pole vault.
Heather May took sixth in the 10,000 (36:18.51) and Lesley Read was
twelfth fastest time in the 3,000 steeple (10:44.66).
Team Director Greg Harger said, "The erratic winds provided some
intriguing challenges for several of the events and provided some real
good learning situations with respect to how we face competitive
adversity." Harger added, "Mark Kostek, the Drake Relays management
team, volunteers, and officials did an great job. They continue to bump
up the quality of the meet each year. The Drake Relays are a great
competitive opportunity for our athletes to open up the championship
portion of our season and we look forward to the continued growth of our
level of our performance each year at the Drake Relays."
The Drake Relays - America's Athletic Classic:
http://www.drakerelays.com
