Ricardo Bell

February 5, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Ricardo Bell hit the USA Indoor National Championship qualifying standard with his winning time of 1:49.94 in the 800 at the Hoosier Relays hosted by Indiana University.

Bell, in qualifying for his first USATF championship, led the Invaders Charge at the Hoosier Relays. Teammate Amber Plowden also hit the USA Indoor National Championship qualifying standard for 60 meters during the semi finals with a time of 7.60 seconds. Plowden finished fourth in the finals with a time of 7.66 seconds.

Hunter Spencer, with an aggressive early pace of 55.0 seconds at 400 meters and 1:56.1 at 800 meters, won the Invitational Mile unchallenged with a time of 4:04.68. In the relay events the Invaders' middle distance men won the 4x800 (7:30.31) and were second in the Distance Medley Relay (10:10.55) in the course of making the most of the Hoosier Relays as a training opportunity for a possible appearance in a DMR at the USA Indoor National Championships in Boston on February 26th, 2006.

Stephanie Dueringer won the 5000 with a time of 17:07.77 in a final tune-up outing before a planned World Cross Country Trials competition over 8,000 meters set for Van Cortland Park, NYC on February 18th. Dueringer will be joined at the World Cross Country Trials by teammates Erin Nehus (8K race) and Hunter Spencer (4K).

Other notable training outings at the Hoosier Relays were posted by Sharline Maxwell-Divis posting the third best mark (56.14 seconds) of the 400 meter trials on Friday and Marc Dzradosi’s 15.55 meter jump in the Friday Trials of the Triple Jump.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "Bell's success this weekend in qualifying for Nationals is just one of many steps he now appears ready to take on the path to national recognition in the 800." Harger added, "To date our entire men’s middle distance crew is setting up well for a very good 2006 outdoor season where we hope to make the most of our opportunity to race in our home town in late June."

Hoosier Relays - Results:
http://iuhoosiers.collegesports.com/sports/m-track/stats/2005-2006/relays2.html
http://iuhoosiers.collegesports.com/sports/m-track/stats/2005-2006/results-day2.html

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