September 12, 2006
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' Erin Nehus will compete on the USA National Team at the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championship that will take place in Debrecen, Hungary on October 8. The championship is a 20k road race that will be contested on a 5,000 meter criterium-loop through the streets of Debrecen.

Nehus, competing on her first USA National Team, is the eighth Indiana Invader athlete to wear the USA jersey and compete for the United States in international competition. Invaders athletes have competed at the Olympic Games, World Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field Championships, World Cross Country Championships, and now the World Road Running Championships.

Nehus is one of five US female athletes competing in this inaugural 20K World Road Running Championship. The top three finishers will score in the competition for the nations team. A total of $245,000 of total prize money is available to the top 6 individual athletes and the top six teams.

During the 2006 season Nehus has competed at the USA World Cross Country Trials, USA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships, and USA 20K National Championships. Nehus was a top 10 USA finisher in both the 20K championship and indoor 3000 championship races. In 2005, Nehus was 5th at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championship.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "It's encouraging to see athletes living and training in Indiana making US National Teams. It takes tremendous committment and dedication to be in a position to make a US Team. Nehus has taken her athletic training seriously as part of her focus on the 2008 Olympic season and this will be a great experience for her. Nehus is excited about this opportunity to represent our country, community, and club in such an event." Harger added, "Indiana has the athletic talent and local resources necessary to have a much larger impact on US National Teams than we have had over the past several decades. We are currently planning to marshall our combined energy and resources on developing additional support for Indiana athletes as we head toward the Olympic Trials and Olympic Games of 2008."

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.