INVADERS' MEN & RUDD TOP GVH CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL FIELDS
November 21, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders' Julia Rudd won the women's 6K title
at the Genesee Valley Cross Country Invitational while the Indiana
Invaders men's team posted a team title on November 19, 2006.
Rudd, a multi-time All-American from UW-La Crosse, had a comfortable
winning time of 22:03 in a very muddy tactical race over the Genesee
Valley Park course winning by nearly 40 seconds.
In the men's race, the Invaders had eight finishers in the Top 20 and
five runners in the Top 10 scoring athletes for a winning score of 25
points. The Invaders were led by Hunter Spencer taking second overall
as the first scoring athlete in the 8K race. Spencer was joined in the
Top 10 scoring athletes by Ted Turner (3rd), John Poray (4th), Caleb
Bailey (7th), Aklilu "Aki" Wondifraw (10th) followed very closely by new
team member Jesse Davis in 11th.
Coach Greg Harger said, "The race conditions were classic old school
cross country with the week of rain leading up to race day and then on
race day the mix of light rain, sleet and a few snow flakes. This was a
good end of fall base training with a team outing for the men where
times are completely irrelevant and the focus is on mental competition
in frustrating and challenging conditions. From a coaching standpoint
we could profit from a few more races like this as you learn so much
under these conditions. Everyone profited from this outing today."
Harger added, "Rudd managed her race in the context of her early
training with us and the challenging conditions with precision and
controlled confidence. She is showing encouraging training responses
that bode well of the coming years. Spencer ran a very disciplined,
conservative race early working with several of his teammates ensuring
the pack stayed together and worked together getting around and through
the many and varied hazards the course presented. The coach's team game
plan likely cost him the win but he knows we are all training for much
bigger race days on the track in 2007. These guys, with half of them
being middle distance track athletes, really took some pride and
competed very well as a team whether they were having a good day or not.
I was especially pleased with the manner in which those out of the
scoring mix finished out their race on this day."
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 ADD ALL-AMERICAN RUNNER ROBYN BURNS
November 16, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added NCAA Division III
All-American runner Robyn Burns, a graduate of Franklin College and
Roncalli High School (IN), to the team's roster.
Burns was a two-time All-American in the 1500 and is a two-time cross
country, two-time outdoor, and three-time indoor NCAA Division III
Championship qualifier. While competing for Franklin College, Burns set
school records in the 800, 1500, Mile, 3000, 5000, 6000 CC and as a
member of the 4X400 relay. Burns was awarded Franklin College's David
C. Naile Award for Leadership
and Service in Women's Athletics.
Team Director Greg Harger
said, "Burns has the athletic potential and
the mental determination to be a national competitor." Harger added,
"It's great
whenever we're able to retain, develop, and promote Indiana collegians
like
Burns. As she steps up to the next level over the next couple of
training cycles it will be exciting for her home community to have
immediate access and interaction in her success as a post-collegiate
athlete."
Burns is one of three Indiana collegians and the second Indiana distance
runner to join the team's roster in the last two months. During the 2007
outdoor season these native Hoosiers along with their Invaders
teammates will have a chance to compete in front of their community as
the USA National Championships will return to Indianapolis on June
20-24, 2007.
Burns joins a team that had 16 athletes qualify for both the 2000 and
the 2004 US Olympic Trials. The 2008 Olympic Trials will be in Eugene
Oregon.
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 ADD OLYMPIC TRIALS QUALIFIER RON ANDREWS
November 14, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added 2004 Olympic Trials 110
meter hurdler Ron Andrews, a graduate of Kent State University, to the
team's roster. Andrews has a career best of 13.71 seconds in the 110
hurdles.
Andrews was a 2002 MAC Conference 60 meter hurdle Champion and an NCAA
All-American in 2000 with a fifth place finish in the 60 meter hurdles.
In high school, Andrews was a two-time class-A New York state
champion in 1996 and 1997.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Andrews is ready to compete at a higher
level. His previous achievements on the track show his potential to be
a consistent competitor at the national level." Harger added, "Andrews
has made the type of mental commitment required to fully explore his
abilities and opportunities and we expect to see a high level of
performance in the 110 hurdles over the next few years with the Andrews
and Chris Thomas tandem."
Andrews joins a team that had 16 athletes qualify for both the 2000 and
the 2004 US Olympic Trials.
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 ADD ALL-AMERICAN RUNNER JESSE DAVIS
November 1, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added NCAA Division II
All-American Jesse Davis, a graduate of the University of Southern
Indiana, to the team's roster.
Davis, a graduate of Bloomington South High School (IN), was a NCAA
Division II National qualifier in the 800, Steeplechase, and cross
country. Davis earned All-American honors in the 800 indoors. Davis
started his collegiate career at Ball State University before the men's
program was terminated by the university. In high school, Davis was a
five-time Indiana High School State championship competitor including
cross country and track (800, 1600, 4x400, & 4x800).
Team Director and Coach Greg Harger said, "Davis is an unusual but not
unheard of example of an athlete that has passed through high school and
college without settling on a specific best event. He has great desire
to continue his training in a focused manner and discover his best
event. Our goal is to determine where he can be most successful over the
next couple of training cycles." Coach Harger added, "With his leg speed
and demonstrated range of experience we're exited about his addition to
our growing distance group. Davis’ addition continues growth of our
distance roster and brings added focus on our developing Indiana talent
as we head into the 2008 Olympic year."
Davis joins a team that had 16 athletes qualify for both the 2000 and
the 2004 US Olympic Trials.
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 ADD SPRINTER LASHAUNA HARRIS
November 7, 2006
INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added All-Big Ten sprinter
LaShauna Harris, of Purdue University, to the team's roster. Harris
has a career best of 11.76 seconds in the 100 meter dash and 13.82 over
the 100 meter hurdles.
Harris, earned Big-Ten All-Conference honors, in the 100m hurdles and
the 4x100 and was a NCAA regional qualifier in the 100-meter hurdles.
In high school, Harris was state champion in the 100 meters and runner
up in 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles. Harris graduated from Jefferson Davis
High School in 2002(Montgomery, AL).
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Harris has the skills and ability to
mature into a fierce competitor at the national level after she completes
her degree in May." Harger added, "Retaining Indiana collegians like
Harris is rewarding as it makes the most of the Indiana investments made
during their collegiate careers."
Harris joins a team that had 16 athletes qualify for both the 2000 and the 2004 US Olympic Trials.
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 ADD ALL-AMERICAN RUNNER JESSE DAVIS
November 1, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have added NCAA Division II
All-American Jesse Davis, a graduate of the University of Southern
Indiana, to the team's roster.
Davis, a graduate of Bloomington South High School (IN), was a NCAA
Division II National qualifier in the 800, Steeplechase, and cross
country. Davis earned All-American honors in the 800 indoors. Davis
started his collegiate career at Ball State University before the men's
program was terminated by the university. In high school, Davis was a
five-time Indiana High School State championship competitor including
cross country and track (800, 1600, 4x400, & 4x800).
Team Director and Coach Greg Harger said, "Davis is an unusual but not
unheard of example of an athlete that has passed through high school and
college without settling on a specific best event. He has great desire
to continue his training in a focused manner and discover his best
event. Our goal is to determine where he can be most successful over the
next couple of training cycles." Coach Harger added, "With his leg speed
and demonstrated range of experience we're exited about his addition to
our growing distance group. Davis’ addition continues growth of our
distance roster and brings added focus on our developing Indiana talent
as we head into the 2008 Olympic year."
Davis joins a team that had 16 athletes qualify for both the 2000 and
the 2004 US Olympic Trials.
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.
