February 10, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders head into their sixth competitive season after staging the 2004 USA Cross Country Championships and World Cross Country Team Trials in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana on February 7th & 8th.

The USA Cross Country Championships and World Cross Country Team Trials brought over 600 athletes to Indianapolis for the 106th running of the championship and had over 3000 spectators in attendance. This world class event also selected the US National Team for the 2004 World Cross Country Championships in Brussels, Belgium in March, 2004.

As the Invaders head further into the 2004 Olympic season and down the road to the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, the team will also host the USATF National Club Track & Field Championships in Bloomington, Indiana on July 2nd & 3rd.

The Invaders have hosted the USATF National Club Track & Field Championships, featuring team scored competition, for the previous three years. Additionally, the Invaders have hosted several high performance meets needed for USA championship qualifying efforts. The team looks forward to bringing additional national and world class events to Indiana in the near future.

The team's support of Olympians and future Olympians provides a unique team and training environment for some of America's best athletes. Having had 18 athletes qualified for their respective Olympic Trials in 2000, the team currently has 10 athletes qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials with five months remaining for more qualifying efforts.

In recent years, the Invaders have torn up the track individually and as a team, with an American record in the pentathlon, one world indoor championship gold medal, and seven individual national champions. The Invaders have also captured five individual runner-up finishes, and qualified 91 total athletes for the indoor and outdoor national championships in 5 years in addition to six USA National Club Championship Titles. Individual Champions and team championships have been won both on the cross country course and on the track.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "We have been very fortunate to experience both sides of the fence with respect to championship events with our competitive athlete successes and our event hosting. We're honored to bring national class events to our community and region. We are pursuing nothing less then excellence and will turn up the heat in coming months in our efforts." Harger added, "As we go forward, we will continue to make our presence known and we will support our athletes' athletic pursuits in the proper manner that respects the Olympic ideals of our sport. We will engage our community with our efforts and bring about a continuation of positive change for our sport."

Ten Invaders are qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, in July, with Hope Sanders (800), Jacob Koczman (800), Donnie Fellows (10,000), Brandon Hon (110H), Carri Long (HJ), Adam Shunk (HJ), Greg Yeldell (TJ), Zachary Riley (HT), Kirt Thompson (JT), and defending Olympic Trials Champion DeDee Nathan in the heptathlon.

The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998, presenting an innovative approach to track & field by providing a resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in the United States.