(INDIANAPOLIS)-- Collette Liss and Phil McMullen captured runner-up finishes in the mile and heptathlon respectively at the 2000 U.S. Indoor Track & Field Championships held March 3-4 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.

Liss, who finished in a personal best of 4:33.28, came from third place at 1,200 meters to chase down Mary Jayne Harrelson and capture second behind Regina Jacobs, who won in the mile in 4:25.92. The meet was Liss' first post-collegiate indoor championship meet. In two weeks Liss will represent the U.S. for her first time at the World Cross Country Championships to take place March 18-19 at Villamouca, Portugal.

McMullen, competing in his first national caliber multi-event since the U. S. - Germany Decathlon event in August of 1998, showed a return to form finishing with 5828 points in second place just 105 points behind Tom Pappas' 5933 point winning score.

Hope Sanders

Finishing in the top ten were Invaders teammates Hope Sanders with a sixth place in 800 meters with a time of 2:07.75 after setting a personal indoor best of 2:06.84 in the qualifying round, Frankie Young finished 7th in the Long Jump with a best mark of 7.61 meters, Steven Parker completed the High Jump in 8th with a clearance of 2.17 meters, Kamau Sullivan was 8th in the Heptathlon with 4537 points, and Lamont Dagen ended up 9th in the Triple Jump with a jump of 15.49 meters.

Tyra Holt (19th - Pole Vault) and Brendon Falconer (DNF - Heptathlon) also competed for the Indiana Invaders in Atlanta. It was Holt's first return to nationals after time away from serious training. Falconer struggled in the Heptathlon after posting no mark in the Long Jump and withdrew from the competition.

"I've had better days but I put my best effort forth," said Liss following the race. She added, "We (Liss and Invaders Head Coach Chris Buhler) had set the race plan up based on what I could accomplish today and not the money on the line or who was in the field." Liss was referring to the $50,000 bonus money for a world record performance in the women's mile.

"We have to be pleased with the performances by Collette and Phil," said Coach Buhler. He added, "but we know that we are just scratching the surface on thier abilities and those wearing the Invaders uniform now and in the future. We've come a long way in a very short time and there is an Olympic Trials in just four months."

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