January 21, 2001

(INDIANAPOLIS)-- The Indiana Invaders, a post-collegiate club for track & field athletes training for national, world, and Olympic championships opened up their indoor season at the Stan Lyons Open, hosted by Butler University at the National Insitute for Fitness and Sports (NIFS).

Invaders took top spots in the mile (Kelly French 4:42.70), 60 meter hurdles (Le'gretta Smith 8.39 seconds), long jump (Pristina Jones 5.41 meters), weight throw (Tara Loper, 17.57 meters), 3,000 meters (Gareth Wilford 8:19.60), and in the 60 meter hurdles (Daren Youngstrom 7.99).

"As with the beginning of any indoor season, we have a modest number of our roster competing in the earliest meets but you can expect to see everyone that is focused on the indoor season well underway by the time we reach the first full weekend of February" said Club Director, Greg Harger. Harger added, "With several athletes focused on the World Cross Country Trials scheduled for February 17 & 18 we may see a slightly reduced presence by our distance athletes in Atlanta for the USA Indoor National Championships but the rest of our club will be very well represented on the indoor track & field landscape this season".

"We have had a solid initial outing by several athletes in these first couple of low-key meets", said Head Coach Chris Buhler. Buhler added, "Brendon Falconer opened very strong by equaling his best in the long jump with a leap of 7.57 meters and turning in an indoor best in the 60 meter hurdles. He appears ready to mount a significant challenge at this year's national indoor championships. Le'gretta Smith and Tara Loper both posted marks that are very close to national qualifying marks in their indoor specialty and I think we can expect to see both of them hitting their qualifying marks very soon. Finally, in Kelly French and DeDee Nathan we have two athletes that are already qualified for World Championships. Kelly continued her steady re-writting of personal best marks by taking an expected 10 plus seconds off of her PR in the Mile which should help solidify her prospects of final selection for the Canadian World Cross Country Team. Nathan is already qualified for the World Indoor Championships in the pentathlon based on her Heptathlon marks and performances from the 2000 season."

The Indiana Invaders will next compete at the Smith Barney Invitational at NIFS on January 27th. The following weekend the Invaders will compete at the Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame (South Bend, Ind.).

Full meet results available:
2001 Stan Lyons Open Results

For further information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg Harger at 317 289-4018 (email).