INDIANA INVADERS KOCZMAN POSTS FAST WIN
January 15, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Jacob Koczman won the 600 with a time
of 1:17.65 at the University of Iowa Hawkeye Invitational on January 14,
2006.
At the Kentucky Invitational the Invaders were led by Hunter Spencer, a
graduate of the University of Kentucky, who took second in the mile with
a time of 4:03.87.
Erin Nehus just missed the USA Indoor Championship qualifying standard
in the 3,000. Nehus' third place finishing time of 9:29.93 was just off
the 9:28.00 USA qualifying standard
Other notable finishes were posted by Ricardo Bell (5th) in the 800 and
Amber Plowden (7th) in the 60.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "It was a good season opener for
Koczman and solid season openers for Spencer and Nehus." Harger added,
"The team returns to Bloomington, Indiana in two weeks to improve on
their efforts in what should be a very good competitive meet on a very
fast track. We'll expect more qualifying efforts at IU in a couple of
weeks."
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 HEAD TO KENTUCKY
January 12, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders will compete in the Kentucky
Invitational on the University of Kentucky’s campus January 14th. The
Invaders will be led by 2006 USA Indoor Nationals qualifier, Amber
Plowden in the 60m and 200 meters.
Plowden, a NCAA Division II Outdoor 100 Champion and eight time
All-American, will be seeking a career best in the 60m after posting a
season opening USA Indoor qualifying mark last weekend at 60 meters.
Andre Totton, a four time JUCO National Sprint Champion will join
Plowden in competing at 60m and both will also see action at 200 meters.
Leading the charge for the Invaders Distance Crew will be University of
Kentucky graduate, Hunter Spencer in the Mile. Spencer has a career
best of 4:00.69 in the Mile. Joining Spencer in seeking a USATF Indoor
Nationals Qualifying mark will be Erin Nehus in the 3,000 meter race.
Nehus finished 5th recently at the 2005 USA Fall Club Cross Country
Championships.
Also competing this weekend are Ricardo Bell (800), Sharline
Maxwell-Divis (400), Aaron Harding a graduate of Indiana State
University, Christopher Hendrix-Buxton, John Poray a graduate of the
University of Indianapolis, and Ted Turner all in the 3,000.
Rounding out the weekend’s competitors will be an early season effort by
2004 Olympic Trials 800 Finalist Jacob Koczman who will be competing at
the University of Iowa. Koczman will race 600 meters in preparation for
his expected return to USA Indoor Nationals.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "It will be a little busier weekend than
last as we build momentum going into the indoor season and continue
preparation for a couple of efforts at the USA World Cross Country
Trials in mid-February." Harger added, "We're enthusiastic about the
opportunities that lay ahead for us this year and our potential to have
an impact later in the 2006 season. We're especially looking forward to
competing in front of our hometown community at the Outdoor
Championships this June. With outdoor nationals being held in our home
state it has been very easy to get most of the athletes focused on
outdoor nationals as our primary goal for 2006."
The USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Indianapolis
in June.
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.
INVADERS OPEN SEASON: PLOWDEN & SHUNK QUALIFY FOR USA INDOOR NATIONALS
January 8, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Amber Plowden was the first Invaders
athletes to post an USA Indoor National Championship qualifying mark in
the 2006 season. Plowden hit in the standard for the 60 meter dash with
her time of 7.60 seconds at the Hoosier Open in Bloomington, Indiana on
January 7, 2006.
Plowden, a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, in her
runner-up finish qualified for her first ever USA Championship.
Adam Shunk won the high jump with a clearance of 2.25 meters, which
qualified him for the USA Indoor National Championships. Shunk a member
of the Indiana Invaders for most of the 2004 and 2005 seasons will be
competing in 2006 for NIKE. Shunk will remain in Indiana pursuing his
graduate degree at Ball State University. Shunk attained the IAAF World
Championship “A” Standard in 2005 of 2.30 meters which catapulted him
into the upper echelon of World Class High Jumpers and served notice on
the American high jumping scene of his excellent prospects for future
USA World and Olympic Team membership.
The Invaders won four other events in what for the most part was a low
key opening meet to the 2006 season for the Indiana Invaders athletes.
Sharline Maxwell-Divis won the 600 (1:35.55), Ricardo Bell won the 800
(1:52.35), Stephanie Dueringer won the 3000 (9:47.80), and the Invaders'
men won the 4x400 relay (3:19.76).
Additional performances were turned in by Brandon Hon (3rd 60 - 7.94)
though just 2 hundredths from being a USA National Qualifying mark,
Christopher Hendrix-Buxton (3rd Mile - 4:21.09), Plowden (5th 25.01 -
200), and Andre Totton (8th 60 - 6.99).
Team Director Greg Harger said, "This was a good season opener at a low
key event for a handful of athletes for what we expect will be one of
the most successful Invaders indoor seasons ever. Plowden as a former
developmental athlete qualified for the first time, Shunk is very strong
as he made all jumps from a short 8 step approach including an excellent
look at 2.28 meters, and valuable fitness checks were posted by all
others in what was for all practical purposes a training outing in meet
conditions. Several other athletes will get out next weekend and the
short indoor season will be fully underway the weekend of the 28th of
January at this same facility in Bloomington. The set-up of this
one-time World Championship track in IU’s field house will be a boon to
fast times in the Midwest." Harger added, "Our prospects for having an
impact at Indoor Nationals are very good and then with the Outdoor
Championships in front of our home community we should benefit from the
home cooking. Having nationals in our home state really helps us break
out of the typical post-Olympic year doldrums much earlier."
The USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Indianapolis
in June.
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.
