Ebbie Metzinger

July 18, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) America's top Elite Development Track & Field Club, the Indiana Invaders, placed five athletes into the top 10 at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Track & Field Trials in Sacramento, California. Ten of the 13 Invaders finished in the top 20.

The Invaders were represented in the widest array of events of any USATF Club. In total the Invaders competed in 11 events. In the field events, the Invaders competed in the long jump (1), triple jump (1), high jump (2), pole vault (3), and the hammer throw (1) with six placing in the top 20. On the track, the Invaders competed in the 800 (3) and 10,000 (1) with three finishing in the top 20. In the combined events, Invaders' Olympian DeDee Nathan took fifth in the heptathlon. Overall this is an improvement from the 2000 Olympic Trials where the Invaders had three top 10 finishes and seven top 15 performances.

On the final day of the Olympic Trials, Ebbie Metzinger finished 13th in the pole vault with her clearance of 4.20 meters. Teammate Adam Shunk was the final Invader to compete on the final day of the Olympic Trials. Shunk took sixth in the high jump with a jump of 2.24 meters.

Highlights of the Invaders' 2004 Olympic Season included five athletes finishing in the top 10 at the Olympic Trials, 17 athletes qualifying for the Olympic Trials (Track & Marathon), a successful defense of the men's and women's national team titles at the USATF National Club Track & Field Championships, the addition of a Masters (30 years or older) Track and Field Program, and successfully hosting the 2004 USA Cross Country Championships and World Team Trials.

This is the sixth competitive outdoor season for the Invaders since the initial formation of the team's athlete roster in the fall of 1998. Since 1999, in addition to one IAAF World Indoor title, the Invaders have had four USA National Champions, one USA Olympic Team Member, five USA National Team Members, 107 USA National Championship Qualifiers, and 66 USATF National Club Champions. The Invaders have also won nine National Team titles in cross country and track.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "We had some gutsy, competitive efforts at this Olympic Trials. We're happy with how we performed overall; however, we're not satisfied with respect to not having any athletes making the Olympic team. Looking back at the results of the Olympic Trials we have a lot to be proud about. We also have a lot of talent and youth on the roster and we're already making plans for next four years leading into the 2008 Olympic Games." Harger added, "Looking back over the past six years we can see that we are on the right path to accomplishing our organizational goals. With the additional support for Elite Development Clubs we look forward to additional growth and accomplishments. Representing our community at the national and international level will continue to be an honor."

Invaders' 2004 Olympic Trials Top 20 Performers
 5th Heptathlon  DeDee Nathan
 6th High Jump   Adam Shunk
 8th 800         Jacob Koczman
10th Hammer      Zack Riley
10th High Jump   Carri Long
13th Pole Vault  Ebbie Metzinger
17th Triple Jump Greg Yeldell
18th Long Jump   Francesca Green
19th 10,000      Donnie Fellows
20th 800         Hope Sanders