July 18, 2001
(INDIANAPOLIS) The USA National Track & Field Club Championships start this Friday and will wrap-up on Saturday evening at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. Nineteen men's teams and thirteen women's teams will contend for the team championship titles. Additionally, an overall Men's & Women's Team Championship title will be awarded based on a combined team scoring basis.

Maryland Elite is expected to score big points in the relays on the men's side. They also expect a big 1-2 finish in the 400H with favorites Omar Clinton and Justin Davis. Tennessee Elite's Jebreh Harris will face Maryland Elite's Anthony Campbell in an one-lap toss-up that will also include Pioneer Track Club's Laboris Bean to contest in an evenly matched 400.

Greater Boston Track Club expects to pick up some big points with the efforts of Joe Welch in the hammer and discus. In a two-lap toss-up, fans should expect a fierce battle from Athenian Athletics' Trinity Townsend and teammate Travis Gunn against Tennessee Elite's Jebreh Harris.

Top contenders for the men's title include:
Athenian Athletics (Ypsilanti, Michigan)
Greater Boston Track Club (Boston, Massachusetts)
Indiana Invaders (Indianapolis, Invaders)
Maryland Elite (Landover, Maryland)
Pioneer Track Club (Arlington, Texas)

On the women's side, Maryland Elite looks to score 1-2-3 in the 200 with the talents of Juliet Brown, Crystal Cox, and Vieoletta Wong. Pioneer Track Club's Alesha Peel seeks to win the 100H against a strong field including Indiana Invaders' Le'gretta Smith & DeDee Nathan and Maryland Elite's Crystal Cox. Shore Athletic Club's Stacy-Ann Grant looks at a close battle for the national club title with the Indiana Invaders' Carri Long. Grant enters the championship with a season best of 0.01 meter over Long's best of 1.87 meters.

Top contenders for the women's title include:
Boston International (Boston, Massachusetts)
Indiana Invaders (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Maryland Elite (Landover, Maryland)
Pioneer Track Club (Arlington, Texas)
Shore Athletic Club (Cranbury, New Jersey)

In the inugural year of the club championship the event fields will include "non-club" athletes to fill out the fields. These additions to the championship will not factor into team scoring. Olympic Medalist Kevin McMahon, hammer throw, and Liberia's fastest man Sayon Cooper, 100m & 200m, are two notable additions to the championship fields.

Club Championship Olympians:
DeDee Nathan (Indiana Invaders)
(USA - Heptathlon - '00)
Kirt Thompson (Indiana Invaders)
(TRINIDAD - Javelin Throw - '96)
Kevin McMahon (Non-Scoring - NYAC)
(USA - Hammer Throw - '96, '00)
Sayon Cooper (Non-Scoring - New Balance)
(LIBERA - 4x100 - '96, '00)
Kouty Mawenh (Non-Scoring - Unattached)
(LIBERA - 4x100 - '96, '00)


For additional information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg Harger at 317 289-4018 or online at: (email)