Indiana Invaders, 2004 Triple Crown Champions Jacob Koczman (left) receiving the baton from Adrian Swanson (right) Indiana Invaders, Men Indiana Invaders, Women Greater Boston TC, Men Greater Boston TC, Women Kansas City Smoke, Men First Step Track Club, Women USATF President Bill Roe (left) & the men of Club Northwest

July 4, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) America's top Elite Development Track & Field Club, the Indiana Invaders, successfully defended the triple crown of track and field, by outscoring Greater Boston Track Club in the men's and women's combined scoring (334 to 165) while running up winning totals for the separate men's and women's team titles at the fourth edition of the USATF National Club Track & Field Championships on July 2-3, 2004 in Bloomington, Indiana.

The Indiana Invaders successfully defended their men's and women's national team titles this Olympic season against 37 teams. Overall, 27 performances during the championships exceeded Olympic Trials qualifying standards, with three performances bettering the Olympic Trials "A" qualifying standard (Steeple Chase, Shot Put, & Javelin Throw). The USA Club Championship record book saw eight records fall, with six of these performances turned in by the Indiana Invaders.

The Indiana Invaders men's team, in winning their second USATF National Club Track & Field Team Championship won six individual events and four relays. Greater Boston Track Club's national runner-up finish with 93 points was closely followed by the Kansas City Smoke in 3rd place with 81 points edging Club Northwest's 54 point fourth place effort.

The Indiana Invaders women's team, in winning their third USATF National Club Track & Field Team Championship ('01, '03 & '04) won nine individual events and three relays. Greater Boston Track Club was edged out of runner-up honors by First Step Track Club (Jacksonville, FL), 93 to 72 points. Lemans Track Club (Bronx, NY) took fourth place with 50 points.

The competitive highlight of the Championship came from the relay events as the second, third & fourth place finishes for both men and women were determined by team finishes in the relays. Occasional torrential rain during the relays did not stop competitors from battling for points and the rain solidified team spirit by adding an extra element of excitement to the all relay finale of the 2004 USATF National Club Track & Field Championships.

Francesca Green, of the Indiana Invaders, earned the distinction of being the last US athlete to qualify for the US Olympic Team Trials, with her final competition effort of 6.41 meters in the championship long jump. Green, qualifying for her first appearance at the US Olympic Trials, is one of 15 Indiana Invaders qualified for US Olympic Team Trials.

Olympian DeDee Nathan and Alex Sprague, representing the Indiana Invaders, earned Most Valuable Athlete honors, by scoring the most individual points at the Club Championships with 42.50 and 37.50 points, respectively. Nathan is the defending US Olympic Trials Champion in the Hepathalon.

Olympic Trials Qualifiers Hope Sanders and Zack Riley of the Indiana Invaders, claimed Top Female & Male Performer honors. Sanders, in defending her national title in the club championships 800 posted a record 2:05.11 in the 800 while Riley landed an Olympic Trials qualifying throw of 69.88 meters for a new record in the hammer throw.

Meet Director Greg Harger said, "This was an outstanding weekend with several athletes qualifying for their first US Olympic Trials. Green's story of qualifying for the Olympic Trials on her final jump, in the final qualifying meet on the calendar, and as the 'final' athlete to qualify for the Olympic Trials represents one of many great stories to come out of the Club Championships this weekend. Through the hurricane like conditions during the relays, the hunger and desire that comes with team pride and honor to win in the relay events speaks volumes about the future of this event for the growing US club system. Team scored competition at the highest level of our sport represents the dawn of a bright future for our growing club system." Harger added, "The prospects of additional growth in the support from USA Track & Field for this event and the acceptance by the newly designated USATF Elite Development Clubs for responsibility in the direction of the development of our club system will deliver events marked by excellence for fans and athletes alike in the very near future. We have much work remaining in front of us but we are very encouraged by the prospects and possibilities for the continued growth and development of all of the national club championships."

USATF Club National Track & Field Championship Results:
http://www.usatf.org/events/2004/USATFClubTFChampionships/schedule.asp

2004 Top 15 Teams in Overall Scoring: 
 1) Indiana Invaders    334
 2) Greater Boston TC   165
 3) First Step TC       138
 4) Kansas City Smoke    81
 5) Central Illinios TC  59
 6) Lemans TC            53
 7) Roland International 41
 8) Lords of the Rings   40
 9) ConnQuest            34
10) Mid Atlantic Elite   33
11) Nike Farm Team       30
11) Ashland Elite        30
13) Syracuse Chargers    18
14) Reebok Boston        16
15) Greater Milwaukee TC 15

Top 10 Men's Teams:
 1) Indiana Invaders     167 
 2) Greater Boston TC     93
 3) Kansas City Smoke     81
 4) Club Northwest        54
 5) First Step Track Club 45
 6) ConnQuest             34
 7) Central Park TC       23
 8) Mid Atlantic Elite    22
 9) Ashland Elite         20
 9) Roland Intl           20

Top 10 Women's Teams:
 1) Indiana Invaders     167  
 2) First Step TC         93
 3) Greater Boston TC     72
 4) Lemans Track Club     50
 5) Central Illinois TC   36
 6) Lords of the Rings    34
 7) Roland International  21
 8) Farm Team             16
 9) Mid Atlantic Elite    11 
10) Bruin Track Club      10

USATF National Club Track & Field Championships - Record Book:

MEN
100     10.42    Darwin Davis           Maryland Elite          2001
200     20.82    Byron Campbell         North Carolina Elite    2002
400     45.88    Darnell Hall           Detroit Pal             2003
800     1:47.41  Jebreh Harris          Knoxville TC            2001
1500    3:55.48  Tony Young             Club Northwest          2002
5000    14:25.7h Paul Kezes             Club Northwest          2003 
110HH   13.89    Shannon Flowers        Shore Athletic Club     2001
        13.89    Brandon Hon            Indiana Invaders        2003
400H    51.78    Omar Clinton           Maryland Elite          2001
3000SC  8:54.94  Jack Kafel             Universol Sole          2004
5000    14:26.84 John Ngigi             Indiana Invaders        2004
LJ      7.56     Okoineme Giwi-Agbormeire Maryland Elite        2001
TJ      15.97    Gregory Yeldell        Indiana Invaders        2004
HJ      2.14     Kevin Netzer           Lords of the Rings      2002
PV      5.20     Matt Phillips          Club Northwest          2001
SP      18.10    Steve Ercegovac        Indiana Invaders        2003
HT      69.29    Scott Boothby          Club Northwest          2002
DT      62.16    Carl Brown             Athenian Athletics      2001
JT      76.31    Kirt Thompson          Indiana Invaders        2003
4x800   7:50.34  Invaders (Swanson,Nehus,Walden,Koczman)        2004
4x100   40.71    Kansas City (Murillo, Nelson, Pyant, Drake)    2003
SMR     3:25.95  Phenom Ath. (Mauldin, Burney, Wilson,Roberson) 2003
DMR     10:25.42 Kansas City Smk.(Hacker,Sims,Kifleyesus,Dunne) 2003
4x400   3:12.10  Kansas City Smk.(Sherman,Nelson,Murillo,Pyant) 2003

WOMEN
100     11.21    Nolle Graham           LeMans TC               2003
200     22.70    Crystal Cox            North Carolina Elite    2002
400     52.65    Crystal Cox            North Carolina Elite    2002
800     2:05.21  Hope Sanders           Indiana Invaders        2004
1500    4:13.79  Collette Liss          Indiana Invaders        2001
5000    17:11.9h Heather Briggs         Mountain West TC        2003 
110HH   13.63    Linise Gordon          Indiana Invaders        2003
400H    1:00.74  Linise Gordon          Indiana Invaders        2002
3000SC  10:25.21 Judy Porter            Indiana Invaders        2001
5000    17:43.60 Heather May            Indiana Invaders        2004
LJ      6.52     Nolle Graham           LeMans TC               2002
TJ      12.22    Rhashida Abdul-Malik   LeMans TC               2004
HJ      1.83     Stacy-Ann Grant        Shore Athletic Club     2001
PV      4.11     Shannon Gallagher      Indiana Invaders        2002
SP      15.32    DeDee Nathan           Indiana Invaders        2002
HT      58.58    Alexandria Earl-Givan  New Haven Age Group     2001
DT      43.24    Toyinda Wilson         Indiana Invaders        2003
JT      45.98    Jamie Strieter         Indiana Invaders        2001
4x800   9:16.51  Invaders (Schnell, Sanders, Stupian, Banks)    2003
4x100   46.71    LeMans   (Brown, Baldwin, Walkes, Nolle)       2003
SMR     4:10.64  Invaders (Jones,Green,Sanders,Lothery)         2004
DMR     11:06.56 Invaders (French Smith, Hein, Liss)            2001
4x400   3:45.35  Invaders (Jones, Plowden, Schnell, Sanders)    2003