Adam Shunk

February 25, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Adam Shunk, competing for NIKE, won the high jump with a clearance of 2.25 meters at the 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston, Massachusetts on February 25, 2006.

Shunk, in winning his first USA National Championship title, will represent the United States at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships to be held in Moscow, Russia on March 10-12, 2006. Shunk, a graduate of Delta H.S., Muncie, Indiana is currently a graduate student at Ball State University.

Hunter Spencer, a graduate of the University of Kentucky, surprised his competitors with a fifth in the finals of the 1500 with a time of 3:45.65. Spencer was 20th at the World Cross Country Trials last weekend. Rounding out the days Top Ten finishes for the Invaders was Erin Nehus' ninth in the 3000 with her time of 9:33.60. Nehus was 21st at the World Cross Country Trials last weekend.

In the first round of the 800, Ricardo Bell finished the day with the second fastest time and advanced to the finals. Bell, competing in his first USA Indoor Championship, is on a three race win streak that includes posting the fastest 600 meters by an American in 2006 which was also good for fifth on the all-time U.S. list. Jacob Koczman fell victim to tactical errors and did not advance to the finals of the 800.

Lewis Edmonson, a newcomer to the Invaders roster, advanced to the semi-finals of the 60 meter hurdles with his time of 7.88. Another recent addition to Invaders, Garland Porter, a graduate of Indianapolis' Ben Davis high school, finished 13th in the weight throw with a toss of 19.86 meters.

Amber Plowden did not advance out of the first round of the 60 meters.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "Shunk's efforts and progression now put him in position to have an international impact for the team by competing for the USA at the World Championships in Moscow. Spencer's finish thrust him back into national consideration in the 1500 after competing in the USA World Cross Country Country Trials just last weekend." Coach Harger added, "With the addition of Shunk's and Spencer's efforts we now have had a total of 20 athletes finish in the top five at the US Indoor Championships since 1999 which includes two wins and four runner-up finishes. The modest success that we've had to date is encouraging but we're looking for more. As we continue to improve our recruiting efforts and coaching efforts we look to have a larger impact when we return next year and especially as we head into the 2008 Olympic year."

2006 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships:
http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAIndoorTFChampionships/

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