August 5, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders' Masters Team, led by All-American Robert Thomas and Olympian Sunder Nix, will compete for national titles at the USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships, August 5-8 at Milikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

Thomas will compete in the 100, 200, and 400 while Nix will see action in the 400. Thomas and Nix are leading 13 Invaders in action in the team's first major team presence at the national masters championships.

Invaders' Brian Hickey, aiming for MVP honors, is scheduled to compete in the 5,000, 10,000 and possibly the 800 meter races. Brett Presley is entered in the javelin, long jump, 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles, and pentathlon.

Byron Batteiger and Todd Delcour will compete in both the 800 and 1500 while Bill McCormick will compete in the 800. Mark Doctor and David Buysse will see action in the 10,000. Felton Turnage will compete in the 100 and 200. John Smith will compete in the javelin.

Donna Pope-Green will see action in the long jump while teammate Judy Wilson will compete in the 5,000.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "Masters competition excites and challenges so many and we look forward to getting a good feel for the Masters level of competition and participation so we can bring more athletes into our sport with our unique connection between the elite athlete and the rest of our sport's participants. We expect to form a larger and larger competitive Masters team element this fall with goals for competitive team appearances at USATF National Masters Championships in cross country along with indoor and outdoor track & field in the years ahead."

Over a four-day span of the championship more than 1,000 athletes will compete for national titles in age groups 30 and over at the 37th edition of the USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships:
http://www.usatf.org/

Indiana Invaders Masters Team:
http://www.indianainvaders.com/masters/