Brandon Hon Hope Sanders Jacob Koczman

February 27, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Hope Sanders and Brandon Hon advanced on day one of 2004 USATF Indoor National Championships with Sanders advancing to the finals of the 800 and Hon advancing to the semi-finals of the 60 hurdles.

Sanders, ranked 12th going into the championship, tied for the third fastest qualifying time of the day (2:05.29). Hon advances to the semi-finals of the 60 meter hurdles with his time of 7.80. Both will return to championship action tommorrow.

Jacob Koczman, ranked 17th going into the championship, finished the day in 14th; however, Koczman's time of 1:50.77 did not advance him through to the finals. Koczman along with Sanders and Hon are three of the ten Indiana Invaders currently qualified for the 2004 US Olympic Team Trials.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "Sanders and Hon, for different reasons had a very good showing today getting through to the next level of competition. It was good to get the rust off as both will compete better and do better in the finals. They are ready to go."

On Sunday February 29th, the Invaders' will have six athletes competing with Adam Shunk & Carri Long (HJ), Francesca Green (LJ), Shannon Gallagher & Ebbie Metzinger (PV), and Jamey Sperle (200).

The top two finishers in the finals will compete at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics March 5-7 in Budapest, Hungary as part of Team USA.

2003 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships:
http://www.usatf.org/events/2003/USAIndoorTFChampionships/