August 9, 2004
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders' Masters Team, led by All-American Robert Thomas and Olympian Sunder Nix, won five national titles at the USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships, August 5-8 at Milikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

Thomas (M35) won the 200 and 400 with times of 22.55 and 49.21 respectively. Thomas was runner-up in the 100. Nix (M40) won the 400 with a time of 50.09. Judy Wilson (W35) won the 5000 with a time of 18:30.14 and Donna Pope-Green (W45) won the long jump with a leap of 4.56 meters.

David Buysse (M35) placed second in the 10,000. Brian Hickey (M35) took third in both the 5000 and 10,000. Felton Turnage (M35) finished third in the 100 and sixth in the 200. Todd Delcour (M35) was fourth in the 1500 and eighth in the 800. John W. Smith (M40) finished 5th in the javelin throw. Mark Doctor (M45) completed the 10,000 in 5th place. Byron Batteiger (M50) grabbed seventh in the 800. Brett Presley (M35) was ninth in the long jump.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "This was a solid first team outing at the Masters Championships for the Invaders with 13 athletes competing. We look forward to the growth of our participation in future events." Harger added, "Our next Masters team outing will likely be at the GVH Invitational Cross Country Meet in Rochester, New York in November as a tune-up for the Cross Country National Masters Championships schedule for Portland in early December."

Over the four-day span of the championship more than 1,000 athletes competed 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/