Nashville Elite's Antoine "The General" Batiste USATF President Bill Roe presents the Men's Champions, Nashville Elite, with the Men's Traveling Helmet Trophy. Outstanding Male & Female Performers of the Meet - Invaders' Olympian Kirt Thompson (JT) & Judy Porter 3,000SC. Indiana Invaders' Rick Sluder "Most Valuable Male Athlete of the Meet" with the National Club Champions Helmet. Indiana Invaders exchanging the baton Suzie Motl (left) and Kathy Kadziolka (right)

July 22, 2001
(INDIANAPOLIS) In the quest for the men's championship title at the inagural USA National Track & Field Club Championship the final three relays (4x100, Sprint Medley, and 4x400) were critical in Maryland Elite's matchup against Nashville Elite. The heated battle was determined by 0.10 seconds in the final men's relay (4x400) as Nashville Elite's Antoine Batiste edged Maryland Elite's Dameon Johnson by 0.10 seconds at the finish.

Batiste not only anchored the determining relay for the men's title, but he also anchored Nashville Elite's second place 4x100 and first place Sprint Medley relays. During Friday's session Batiste took second place in the 800 (8 points) and third place in the 3,000SC (6 points). Overall, Batiste ran the gamut from a leg in the 4x100 relay to hurdling barriers and navigating water jumps in the 3000SC.

Not to be outdone by Batiste's efforts, teammate Mario Paul scored in six events - 400H (2nd), long jump (3rd), 400 (5th) and the three relays for a total of 25 points. Nashville Elite had 3 members score over 20 points - Batiste (21), Xavier James (23), and Paul (25). Maryland Elite was lead by Derwin Davis's 24 points. Davis picked up wins in both the 100 and 200 while helping the team pick up a win in the 4x100 and third place in the Sprint Medley.

The "Outstanding Male Performer of the Meet" was Olympian Kirt Thompson of the Indiana Invaders with a 73.04 meter toss in the javelin.

The "Most Valuable Male Athlete" of the championship was Indiana Invaders' distance ace Rick Sluder with 28 points. Sluder won the 1500 and 5,000 while finishing second in the 3,000SC behind teammate Todd Moroney. Sluder scored 28 points.

The race for the women's championship title was won by the Indiana Invaders with 204 points. The top performance on the women's side came from Judy Porter, also of the Indiana Invaders, with a 12 second PR to win the 3,000SC in 10:25.21. Porter's performance earned her the "Outstanding Female Performer of the Meet" honors.

In the distance medley relay (1200-400-800-1600) the Indiana Invaders put together the second fastest time in the world for 2001 with a 11:06.56. Kelly French lead off with a 3:29 for 1200 meters after running her 2nd-best-ever 1500 (4:22.78) earlier in the day, 400 hurdler Le'gretta Smith took the baton to run an excellent 400 leg in 53.9, Priscilla Hein then ran 2:07 on the 800 leg after doubling earlier in the meet (winning the 800 in 2:05.65 and finishing 3rd in the 1500) leaving Collette Liss to anchor after having earlier won the 1500. Liss completed her 1600 meter circuit in 4:34 leaving the Invaders wondering about a possible run at the World Best on a day when they all have fresh legs.

The "Most Valuable Female Athlete" was the Indiana Invaders' Tara "Big Time" Loper. Loper won the discus throw and finished second in the shot put and hammer throw for a total of 26 points.

The 21 clubs at this inagural championship represent a membership base of over 12,000 from communities in 16 states. The men's champions, Nashville Elite, are among four clubs that were founded in 2001 because of the opportunity to compete in a team championship.

Sluder and Loper led the Indiana Invaders to win the club championship with a score of 252 points. The women's title was won by the Invaders with 204 points. A total of nine women's teams and 17 men's teams competed in the inagural year of the club championship.

TOP 10 TEAMS              MEN    WOMEN   TOTAL
Indiana Invaders          48     204     252
Maryland Elite            88     42      130
Nashville Elite           92     0       92
Greater Boston TC         53     0       53
Shore Athletic Club       28     10      38
Athenian Athletics        31     0       31
Club Northwest            18     8       26
Pioneer Track Club        24     0       24
Miami Valley TC           20     0       20
Knoxville TC              18     0       18