Posted: February 24, 2005

Athletics: Seven Indiana Invaders To Compete At USA Indoor Nationals

(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indiana Invaders qualified eight athletes in nine events for the 2005 USA Track & Field Indoor National Championships. The competition runs from February 25th through February 27th at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Boston, MA.

This is the seventh 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 individual Indoor National Title, had four runner-up finishes, placed 12 in the top five, and had 36 finishes in the top 10.

	'05	'04	'03	'02	'01	'00	'99	Total(s)
Qualified:	8	12	12	4	12	7	5	60
Top 10:	5	6	4	10	7	5	36	*
Top 5:	1	1	2	4	2	2	12	*
2nd:	1	-	-	-	2	1	4	*
1st:	-	-	-	1	-	-	1	*

*pending '05 results

Currently the Indiana Invaders have seven athletes declared for competition in five events for the 2005 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships with Alicia Miller (400), Hope Sanders (800), Natasha Lothery (800), Jacob Koczman (800), Adrian Swanson (800), Ebbie Metzinger (Pole Vault), and Francesca Green (Long Jump). Brandon Hon qualified for the 60 meter hurdles but was forced to scratched due to a minor injury to avoid compromising a breakthrough outdoor season.

Jacon Koczman, a 2004 US Olympic Trials Finalist in the 800, currently ranked 11th in the 800 entry list will race in his third USATF Indoor Championship. Koczman was a two-time NAIA Champion (400 outdoors & 600 indoors) while competing for Northwestern College (IA).

Ebbie Metzinger, a 2004 US Olympic Trials Finalist and graduate of Purdue University and Benton Central HS (Ind.), returns for her third USA Indoor Nationals appearance in the pole vault. Metzinger is ranked 8th in her event going into the weekend's competition.

Hope Sanders, a 2004 US Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 800, returns for her fifth appearance at USATF Indoor nationals in the 800 as the sixth ranked competitor. Sanders also qualified to compete in the Mile but choose to pass on her first opportunity to double at USA Nationals due to the scheduled time of the two events. Sanders, a graduate of the University of Illinois and Warren Central HS (Ind.), finished sixth in 2004, eighth in 2003, sixth in 2000 and 1999 at the Indoor Championships in addition to competing at the 2000 Olympic Trials.

Francesca Green, a 2004 US Olympic Team Trials Qualifier and Two-Time NCAA All American for the University of Washington, will compete in her second USA Indoor Nationals and is ranked eighth in the long jump field. Green was fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 1996 and competed on the US National Team at the World Junior Championships in 1996. Green was eighth at the 2004 USA Indoor National Championships in the long jump. Green was also a Two-Time Washington State High School Champion in the 100 while competing for Kamiaicin HS (Wa.).

Alicia Miller, a graduate of Indiana State University and Elkhart Central HS (Ind.), is ranked fifth going into the 400. This competition will be Miller's first USA National Championship.

Adrian Swanson, a graduate of Indiana State University, is ranked ninth going into the 800. Swanson's primary event is the 400 meter hurdles. Swanson was an Indiana High School State Champion in the 300 hurdles in 1997 and runner-up in 1996 when he represented South Bend Adams HS (Ind.).

Team Director Greg Harger said, "Our presence in terms of actual numbers at Indoor Nationals is modest this year when you look at our total roster but with this being a post-Olympic year many athletes are working with a slightly different perspective relative to the pending outdoor season and the next four years of hard training." Harger added, "In the past six seasons we've had 52 athletes qualify for Indoor Nationals with 12 finishing in the top 5. We look forward to adding to this history in both categories Saturday and Sunday in Boston."

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. 2005 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships: USATF.org.

The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998, presenting an innovative approach to track & field by providing a resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in the United States. The Indiana Invaders have also been designated as a USA Elite Development Club by the United States Governing Body of Athletics, USA Track & Field. The designation is for the upcoming Olympiad, as the team prepares for the next four years heading into Beijing, China for the 2008 Olympic Games.

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