February 11, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) Indiana Invaders' sprinters Amber Plowden and Chris Thomas lowered their career bests at 60 meters and 60 meter hurdles respectively over the weekend at the Iowa State Classic. All three rounds of competition for both athletes resulted in times exceeding USA Indoor National qualifying standards.

Plowden, a former NCAA Division II Champion in the 100, ran a career best of 7.40 seconds in the opening round, then lowered her career best to 7.32 seconds in the semi-finals, and took third in the finals with a time of 7.33 with the winning mark just one hundredth of a second faster.

Teammate Chris Thomas, earning his USA Championship Qualifying Standard, took third in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 7.91. Thomas ran a 7.90 in the opening round and then set a career best time of 7.86 in the semi-final race.

Team Director Greg Harger said, "Plowden and Thomas ran a solid series of races this weekend demonstrating the type of consistency indicative of better times in the near future." Harger added, "Both Plowden and Thomas have been training hard and resolving technical issues with their races such that indoor season bests are possible at Indoor Nationals in two weeks. Neither has run a clean race yet but both are getting closer with each outing. More importantly they are keeping their focus on the outdoor season and the prospects of getting their 2008 Olympic Trials qualifying marks established as soon as possible. The Olympic Trials qualifying standards are a priority for all of our elite athletes and posting qualifying marks as early as possible will allow our training and racing focus to be geared totally toward best efforts at the Olympic Trials in 2008. In many cases we have downplayed this indoor season to maximize our specific training and put our performance peak in line with the dates for the Olympic Trials in July of 2008."

The Indiana Invaders will compete at the US Indoor Championships in Boston, Massachusetts on February 24-25 at the Reggie Lewis Center. The Invaders currently have four athletes qualified with Adam Shunk in the high jump (2.24), Amber Plowden in the 60 meters (7.32), Chris Thomas in the 60 hurdles (7.86), and Pat Manson in the Pole Vault (5.50).

Iowa State Classic Results:
http://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/3059.htm?SPSID=46618&SPID=4244&DB_OEM_ID=10700
http://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/3062.htm?SPID=4239&SPSID=46594&DB_OEM_ID=10700

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