Amber Plowden

January 12, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Invaders will compete in the Kentucky Invitational on the University of Kentucky’s campus January 14th. The Invaders will be led by 2006 USA Indoor Nationals qualifier, Amber Plowden in the 60m and 200 meters.

Plowden, a NCAA Division II Outdoor 100 Champion and eight time All-American, will be seeking a career best in the 60m after posting a season opening USA Indoor qualifying mark last weekend at 60 meters. Andre Totton, a four time JUCO National Sprint Champion will join Plowden in competing at 60m and both will also see action at 200 meters.

Leading the charge for the Invaders Distance Crew will be University of Kentucky graduate, Hunter Spencer in the Mile. Spencer has a career best of 4:00.69 in the Mile. Joining Spencer in seeking a USATF Indoor Nationals Qualifying mark will be Erin Nehus in the 3,000 meter race. Nehus finished 5th recently at the 2005 USA Fall Club Cross Country Championships.

Also competing this weekend are Ricardo Bell (800), Sharline Maxwell-Divis (400), Aaron Harding a graduate of Indiana State University, Christopher Hendrix-Buxton, John Poray a graduate of the University of Indianapolis, and Ted Turner all in the 3,000.

Rounding out the weekend’s competitors will be an early season effort by 2004 Olympic Trials 800 Finalist Jacob Koczman who will be competing at the University of Iowa. Koczman will race 600 meters in preparation for his expected return to USA Indoor Nationals.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "It will be a little busier weekend than last as we build momentum going into the indoor season and continue preparation for a couple of efforts at the USA World Cross Country Trials in mid-February." Harger added, "We're enthusiastic about the opportunities that lay ahead for us this year and our potential to have an impact later in the 2006 season. We're especially looking forward to competing in front of our hometown community at the Outdoor Championships this June. With outdoor nationals being held in our home state it has been very easy to get most of the athletes focused on outdoor nationals as our primary goal for 2006."

The USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Indianapolis in June.

The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1998, presents an innovative approach to track & field by providing a resident-based, athlete-centered support system unique to the sport in the United States.