Athletics: Nine Invaders To Compete At USA Indoor Nationals

(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders have twelve athletes qualified for the 2004 USA Track & Field Indoor National Championships. The competition runs from February 27th through February 29th at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Boston, MA. This is the sixth competitive indoor season for the Invaders since the initial formation of their athlete roster in the fall of 1998. Since 1999 in addition to one World Indoor Champion, the Invaders have won one indoor title, had three runner-up finishes, placed 11 in the top five, and had 32 finish in the top 10.

Nine Invaders will compete this weekend. Adam Shunk, already a 2004 US Olympic Trials Qualifier, will lead the charge as he returns for his second USA Indoor nationals appearance as the fourth (tied) ranked competitor in the high jump. Shunk is a graduate from Delta High School (Ind.). Shunk was the NCAA Indoor High Jump Champion in 2003 and runner-up in 2002.

Carri Long, also a 2004 US Olympic Trials Qualifier, returns for her third appearance as the fifth (tied) ranked competitor in the high jump.

Long is a graduate of Purdue University and Northview High School (Ind.) and is a Two-Time Indiana State High Jump Champion. Long has been consistently ranked in the top 10 in the US since 2000. In addition to competing on the US National Team at the 2001 World University Games, Long was a finalist at the 2000 Olympic Trials.

Francesca Green, a Two-Time NCAA All American, in her first USA Indoor Nationals appearance is ranked 6th in the long jump. Green was fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and competed on the US National Team at the World Junior Championships in 1996. Green is also a Two-Time Washington State High School Champion in the 100.

USATF Nationals veteran, Shannon Gallagher, will compete as the eighth (tied) ranked athlete in the pole vault fresh off of her Olympic Trials qualifying vault on February 22nd. Gallagher, a 10-time USATF Championships Qualifier, placed 10th at the 2000 Olympic Trials in the pole vault.

Brandon Hon, a 2004 US Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 110 hurdles, will compete in the 60 meter hurdles as the 9th (tied) ranked athlete in the field. Hon finished 13th in the 2003 edition of USA Indoor Nationals. Hon, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, was the 2001 Conference USA champion in the 400 hurdles.

Ebbie Metzinger, a graduate of Purdue University and Benton Central High School (Ind.), returns for her second USA Indoor Nationals appearance in the pole vault ranked 11th in her event.

Hope Sanders, a 2004 US Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 800, returns for her fourth appearance at USATF Indoor nationals in the 800 as the 12th ranked competitor. Sanders, a graduate of the University of Illinois and Warren Central HS (Ind.), finished eighth in 2003, sixth in 2000 and seventh in 1999 at the Indoor Championships in addition to competing at the 2000 Olympic Trials.

Jamey Sperle, a Dakota Wesleyan graduate will make his second appearance at USA Indoor Nationals where he finished 12th in 2003. The Seven Time NAIA All-American finished 2nd in the 2003 NAIA Outdoor Championships at 200 meters.

Jacob Koczman, a 2004 US Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 800, ranked 17th in the 800 will race in his second USATF Indoor Championship. Koczman is a two-time NAIA Champion (400 outdoors & 600 indoors).

Also qualified but not competing due to plans specific for this summer's Olympic Trials are Greg Yeldell, a 2004 US Olympic Trials Qualifier in the triple jump; Zack Riley, a 2004 US Olympic Trials Qualifier in the hammer throw; and decathlete Alex Sprague (Heptathlon).

Harger said, "Satisfaction for this group will not be graded until after we finish the weekend's competition." Harger added, "In most cases, we are headed to nationals with the intent of competing for the privilege to represent USA Track & Field's national teams. That opportunity is a long and challenging path and this championship is a step in that process for these individuals. We have a proud history of playing a role in the advancement of talented athletes to the highest level of competition in our sport. We welcome the opportunity to continue growing our list of national team qualifiers."

The USA Indoor Track & Field Championships are the world's oldest indoor track championships, with the first meet being held in 1888 in New York. The top two finishers in each event being selected for the contingent of Team USA that will compete at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics March 5-7 in Budapest, Hungary.

2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships: www.usatf.org/events/2003/USAIndoorTFChampionships/ .

For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg Harger at 317 289-4018 or online at: (greg.harger@indianainvaders.com) www.indianainvaders.com.