Hon and Riley

January 11, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Brandon Hon and Zack Riley hit national qualifying marks for the 2004 USA Indoor Championships with their respective wins in the 60 hurdles and the weight throw at the Hoosier Open, hosted by Indiana University in Bloomington Indiana on January 10, 2004.

Riley, with a winning toss of 20.52 meters, is also a 2004 US Olympic Trials Qualifier in the hammer throw. Riley was seventh in the hammer throw at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2003 and set three school records while at Ball State University.

Hon, a 2004 US Olympic Trials Qualifier in the 110 hurdles, is also the 2003 USATF National Club Champion in the 110 hurdles. Hon led the Invaders sweep of the 60 hurdles with his winning time of 7.87 with teammates Alex Sprague and Brendon Falconer taking second and third, respectively.

Decathletes Falconer and Sprague, beginning their season in preparation to qualify for the Olympic Trials Decathlon, also went 1-2 in the long jump and both finished in the top 5 in the shot put.

Hon also posted a lifetime best indoor 400 mark of 48.94 in posting the second fastest time of the day in the 400 while teammate Adrian Swanson, a graduate of Indiana State University, finished 3rd in the 400 with a time of 49.01.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "This was a good early season opener for a limited number of athletes to hit early qualifiers." Harger added, "Hon went to the meet looking to get his hurdle qualifier out of the way early and posted a PR while Riley had opening meet rough spots and still posted a national mark. Next week we'll have a little bump up in numbers as additional athletes begin to open their indoor seasons."

Since 1999, the Invaders have won one World Championships individual title, one USATF Indoor individual title, had three runner-up finishes, placed 11 in the top five, and placed 31 in the top 10.