Posted: April 25, 2004

Athletics: Indiana Invaders Place 5 In Top 5 At Drake Relays

(INDIANAPOLIS) Invaders' Carri Long and Amber Plowden led the team on the final blustery and wet day of the Drake Relays, in Des Moines, Iowa, with their runner-up finishes in the Special Invitational High Jump (1.84) and Special Invitational 200 (23.90), respectively.

Along with Olympian Kirt Thompson's win in the javelin on Friday the Invaders' top 5 finishers included Sharline Maxwell-Divis with a fourth in the Special Invitational 400 (55.16), and Brandon Hon captured fifth in the Special Invitational 110 hurdles (13.85). Hon also finished sixth in the Special Invitational 400 hurdles (51.17).

Jamey Sperle finished sixth in the Special Invitational 200 (21.57), Hope Sanders took seventh in the Special Invitational 800 (2:10.64), Francesca Green was seventh in the long jump (5.56), Jacob Koczman was eighth in the men's Special Invitational 800 (1:51.68), Shannon Gallagher was eighth in the Special Invitational pole vault (4.03), and Adrian Swanson took ninth in the Special Invitational 400 hurdles (51.98).

Team Director Greg Harger said, "Despite the challenging weather on the track today, our athletes remained very competitive when it was readily apparent that the great competition was not going to over-come the restricts from mother nature on the day's efforts. Overall our athletes did a great job in making this a learning experience for those times when creative competiveness are critical to success." Harger added, "Mark Kostek, the Drake Relays management team, volunteers, and officials did an excellent job. They continue to bump up the quality of the meet each year. The Drake Relays are a great competitive opportunity for our athletes and we look forward to the continued growth of our level of our performance each year."

The Drake Relays - America's Athletic Classic: /www.drakerelays.com.

For additional information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg Harger at 317 289-4018 or online at: (invaders@indy.net)   www.indianainvaders.com.