INDIANA INVADERS' AMBER PLOWDEN EMERGES AT USA NATIONALS
February 25, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' emerging sprint star Amber Plowden
took fifth in the 60 meters at the 2007 AT&T USA Indoor Track &
Field Championships in Boston, Massachusetts on February 25, 2007.
Plowden, a former NCAA Division II Champion in the 100, took
fifth in the 60 meters with a career best time of 7.24. Plowden's
performance was the sixth fastest by an American this season and
catapults her into the World Top 20 list.
Teammate Pat Manson placed seventh in the pole vault with a clearance
of 5.40 meters. Adam Shunk also placed seventh in the high jump with a
jump of 2.15 meters.
Chris Thomas, in his first season with the Invaders, was 18th in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 7.94.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Plowden had a break-through
performance and we're excited about where this puts her. Plowden's
performance today and her story from making the transition from her
Division II career shows what elite development clubs such as the
Invaders can do for elite development in our country." Harger added,
"Shunk's performance was slightly disappointing. We were hoping for a
repeat win, but it does show that his recovery from his recent car
accident is going well. It's not every day that many guys given the
circumstances can finish seventh in the US. He's training hard and he's
highly motivated for the outdoor season."
USA Indoor Track & Field Championships Results:
http://www.usatf.org/events/2007/USAIndoorTFChampionships/results/fullResults.asp
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 HEADED TO USA INDOOR NATIONALS
February 24, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders are headed to the 2007 AT&T USA
Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston, Massachusetts on February
24-25, 2007. The Invaders are led by defending high jump champion Adam
Shunk.
Shunk, representing NIKE, returns to Boston to defend his 2006 title as
he competes in the high jump. Shunk has represented the United States on
two US National Teams including the World Indoor Championships held in
Moscow, Russia in 2006 and the eight-nation DecaNation competition held
in Paris, France in 2005. Collegiately, Shunk took top honors in the
high jump by winning the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2003.
Amber Plowden, an emerging sprint star for the Invaders, enters into
the championship with the ninth fastest seed time of 7.32 in the 60
meters. Plowden is a former NCAA Division II Champion in the 100 and
an eight-time D-II All-American.
Chris Thomas, a newcomer to the USA Championships, will see action in
the 60 meter hurdle. This is Thomas' first USA Championship.
Most people, sports fans and non-fans alike, are well aware of the
4-minute mile and its significance as a mark of a world-class athlete.
Now, imagine if someone had run a 4-minute mile every year for the past
two decades. Invaders' Pat Manson has a unique distinction on his
athletic resume. Manson, a legendary pole vault veteran, has cleared 18
feet in the pole vault for 22 straight years.
Team Director Greg Harger said, "Shunk is back to defend his title.
Plowden is looking to make her mark in the sprints. Thomas will gain
valuable experience in his first championship outing. Manson is a
legend in the pole vault and will be in the mix." Harger added, "We have
a small but solid group competing this weekend. We're looking for some
good finishes and additional championship quality competition
opportunities. In many cases, for the athletes not competing this
weekend, we have downplayed this indoor season to maximize our specific
training and put our performance peak in line with the dates for the
Olympic Trials in July of 2008."
AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships:
http://www.usatf.org/events/2007/USAIndoorTFChampionships/
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' SPRINTERS HIT USA QUALIFIERS
February 11, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' sprinters Amber Plowden and Chris Thomas
lowered their career bests at 60 meters and 60 meter hurdles
respectively over the weekend at the Iowa State Classic. All three
rounds of competition for both athletes resulted in times exceeding USA
Indoor National qualifying standards.
Plowden, a former NCAA Division II Champion in the 100, ran a
career
best of 7.40 seconds in the opening round, then lowered her career best
to 7.32 seconds in the semi-finals, and took third in the finals with a
time of 7.33 with the winning mark just one hundredth of a second
faster.
Teammate Chris Thomas, earning his USA Championship Qualifying
Standard, took third in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 7.91.
Thomas ran a 7.90 in the opening round and then set a career best time of 7.86 in the semi-final race.
Team Director Greg Harger
said, "Plowden and Thomas ran a solid series
of races this weekend demonstrating the type of consistency indicative
of better times in the near future." Harger added, "Both Plowden and
Thomas have been training hard and resolving technical issues with
their races such that indoor season bests are possible at Indoor
Nationals in two weeks. Neither has run a clean race yet but both are
getting closer with each outing. More importantly they are keeping
their focus on the outdoor season and the prospects of getting their
2008 Olympic Trials qualifying marks established as soon as possible.
The Olympic Trials qualifying standards are a priority for all of our
elite athletes and posting qualifying marks as early as possible will
allow our training and racing focus to be geared totally toward best
efforts at the Olympic Trials in 2008. In many cases we have downplayed
this indoor season to maximize our specific training and put our
performance peak in line with the dates for the Olympic Trials in July
of 2008."
The Indiana Invaders will compete at the US Indoor Championships in
Boston, Massachusetts on February 24-25 at the Reggie Lewis Center. The
Invaders currently have four athletes qualified with Adam Shunk in the
high jump (2.24), Amber Plowden in the 60 meters (7.32), Chris
Thomas in the 60 hurdles (7.86), and Pat Manson in the Pole Vault (5.50).
Iowa State Classic Results:
http://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/3059.htm?SPSID=46618&SPID=4244&DB_OEM_ID=10700
http://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/3062.htm?SPID=4239&SPSID=46594&DB_OEM_ID=10700
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.
