Carri Long Jada Phelps

February 28, 2002
(INDIANAPOLIS) Top ranked Invaders are headed toward New York City to compete at the USA National Indoor Championships on March 1-2 at the historic Armory Track & Field Center at 168th Street. The Invaders are led by top ranked Carri Long and Jada Phelps, both third ranked of entries going into this weekend, in the high jump and triple jump, respectively (as of 2/28/2002).

Ranked fifth in the United States in 2001, Long went on to compete at the World University Games. Long is joined by fellow Purdue University graduate Toyinda Wilson, having not competed in 2 years, is ranked seventh going into the weight throw. Wilson won the NCAA Championships in this event in 1999 and also won the Big Ten Indoor Championships in 1998 and 1999.

Phelps, a native of Indianapolis, Ind. and Heritage Christian H.S., finished 8th at the 2001 USA World Track & Field Trials in her first outing with the Invaders at USA Championship. Phelps was also a 12-time MAC Champion and was nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2001.

400 meter hurdler, Le'gretta Smith also heads to New York ranked ninth in the 60 hurdle field after an indoor season packed with personal best efforts. Smith looks to improve on her eighth place finish in 2001 in this event.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "We are excited about our first trip to the Armory and especially the opportunities for major breakthroughs with respect to each of our athletes competing this year."

The USA Indoor Track & Field Championships are the world's oldest indoor track championships first held in New York in 1888, resuming in 1906 and held primarily in New York from 1906 to 1993, most recently at Madison Square Garden. The Championships were held in Atlanta, Georgia from 1994-2001.

The Championships will be broadcast from 4-5:30 p.m. (EST) Sunday, March 3, on ESPN in the United States. The Championships are televised internationally to over 50 countries.

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