Posted: June 6, 2004

Athletics: Olympic Medalists & Veterans Face Olympic Hopefuls In Michigan

(INDIANAPOLIS) International standouts including Olympians, Olympic Hopefuls and International Gold Medalists will face one another at the Big Blue National Invitational, on the campus of Hillsdale College, in Hillsdale Michigan on June 11-12th, 2004.

This event is a "Family Friendly, Spectator Friendly" competition featuring High Performance Entertainment on the track is produced by NFTL, Inc. and hosted by the Indiana Invaders working with the Hillsdale Track & Field program. This will be the final opportunity for fans to experience and witness in person the spirit of this Olympic Season in Michigan.

Olympic Gold Medalist Darnell Hall and Olympic Silver Medalist Nduka Awazie will battle in the 400. Hall is from Detroit Michigan (graduate of Pershing High School) and Awazie is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. Hall won the Olympic Gold at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain as part of the US 4x400 relay team. Hall also won the 1995 World Indoor Championships in the 400. Awazie competed for Nigeria at the 2000 Olympic Games in the 4x400 relay. Olympian Tanko Braimah, a citizen of Ghana, and a resident of Sterling Heights, Michigan will compete in the 100 and 200. Indiana Invaders' Jamey Sperle will face Braimah in the 200.

Olympian Paul McMullen, a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and Cadillac High School, will compete in the Metric Mile (1500 meters) featuring a field of 10 sub 4 minute milers. McMullen is a two time US National Champion and competed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. McMullen will face two-time Olympian Jason Pyrah who finished 10th at the 2000 Olympic Games and veteran Steeple Chaser Sandu Rebenciuc, representing the US Army, a two-time World Cross Country Championship competitor.

The High Performance Track & Field Series Director Greg Harger said, "The athletic clash between an established generation and potential future stars in a great setting such as Hillsdale is a special opportunity for track & field fans. Also, Michigan native Olympians Paul McMullen and Darnell Hall compete this Olympic season for the final time in front of their home state crowd."

Paul McMullen athletic profile: usatf.org/athletes/bios/oldBios/2002/McMullen_Paul.asp.

Darnell Hall athletic profile: usatf.org/athletes/bios/oldBios/1997/hall.asp.

Big Blue National Invitational.

For further information on NFTL, Inc. and NFTL produced events, please contact Greg Harger at 317 289-4018 or online at: (greg.harger@nftl.net).