National Champion Priscilla Hein

December 3, 2001
(INDIANAPOLIS) Priscilla Hein led the Invaders to their first national cross country title with her win at the Fall USA National Cross Country Championships in Mobile, Alabama at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park on December 1st, 2001. Hein's winning performance of 20:21.29 on the 6K course led the team to a 38 to 47 point win over the runner-up NIKE Farm Team.

"Hein did a hell of a job. She set the pace from the beginning with the Invader mentality of making it hard from the gun. She has adopted the Invader philosophy of racing hard the entire race. We want to find out how tough people are from the starting line to the finish line," said Coach Chris Buhler. "The women met the challenge of winning that was presented to them in August; however, we did not dominate the race to the level that we had as our goal. We are better than what we did, and we're going to get better. It just didn't click this weekend, but the championship does means a lot to the organization," added Coach Buhler

"Hein has adapted very well to the training, coaching, and philosophy of the Invader organization. Hein has been with the team for just over a year and has taken to the level of expectations we have for all recruits. We want to be competitive at the national level, but look beyond that so we can be competitive and successful at the Olympic level," said Coach Buhler. "I'm beyond pleased with Hein's training & focus as she's made excellent progress after only 13 months with the team.

Hein finished 5th in 2000 and 11th in 1999 at the Fall USA National Club Cross Country Championships. She finished 10th at the USA World Cross Country Trials ('01) and ran in the USATF finals at the Mile indoors ('01) and the 1500 outdoors ('01) and most recently ran one of the fastest times ever at Boston's famed Franklin Park CC course in winning the Boston Mayor's Cup title. Coach Buhler commented before the championship that, "She is really looking good in practice and has gained great strength this fall... She's right on track... She'll be in contention to make the world cross country team by February's World Cross Country Trials with the progress she's made."

Overall, the women placed seven in the top 25. Collette Liss finished second in 20:32, Kelly French finished in 10th with 21:15, Judy Porter was 11th in 21:25, Kathy Kadziolka was 14th in 21:45, Susie Motl was 17th in 22:05, and Keisha Banks was 22nd in 22:12.

Top Five Women's Teams:
1 Indiana Invaders 38 (1,2,10,11,14,22)
2 NIKE Farm Team 47 (5,6,7,8,21,23)
3 Club Northwest 76 (4,13,16,19,24,31,33,43)
4 Greater Lowell RR 99 (9,12,20,28,30,34)
5 Track West 100 (3,15,18,27,37,39,44)

The Invaders' emergence as the 2001 national women's champions marks the first cross country title for the team since being founded in 1998. As a resident based team competing in every track & field event, cross country, and the marathon, competitions focused on team scoring are considered a key to bringing experience to young elite and emerging athletes in preparation for world competition.




The men's national title went to Hanson's Running Shop with a tied score of 40 points with the NIKE Farm Team. Hanson's fifth man won the championship by finishing in 13th ahead of the Farm Team's fifth man in 17th. Wisconsin Runner Racing Team placed third with 60 points. Last year the Wisconsin team edged out the Hanson's by one point, 60 to 61 with the Farm Team in third with 98 points. On the men's side, the Invaders finished seventh in the 10K race which was not an improvement on their fifth place last year.

"The men did not perform to the level of training that we put into this championship," said Coach Buhler. "It was not an experience that we want to repeat. After a break, we will make the necessary adjustments and alterations to reach our potential" added Coach Buhler.

Top Seven Men's Teams:
1 Hanson's Running Shop 40 (3,4,8,12,13,46,59)
2 NIKE Farm Team 40 (2,5,6,10,17,21,28,32)
3 Wisconsin RR Team 60 (1,7,11,19,22,24,38,55)
4 Boston Athletic Assoc. 118 (14,20, 25,29,30,44,52,60)
5 Atlanta TC 141 (9,15,35,37,45,49)
6 Reebok Aggies 162 (16,26,31,39,50,68,69,87)
7 Indiana Invaders 198 (27,33,34,47,57,80)

In regard to the championship Coach Buhler said "The Mobile Sports Commission, the City of Mobile, the Port City Pacers, the Alabama Association of USATF, and race director Steve Schoenewald deserve a lot of credit for upping the standard for a championship cross country event. They did a first-class job with the championship. The Invaders would support the return of any future cross country championships to Mobile. We'd return in a heartbeat." Added Buhler, "There are a number of clubs and programs around the country charged with developing distance talent that need to become involved in the team scoring atmosphere found in this national championship. We look forward to greater and greater competition in the coming years through the growth and emergence of healthy rivalries," said Coach Buhler.

Championship Results available at:
http://www.cfpitiming.com/

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