January 20, 2012

(Indianapolis, IN) The Indiana Invaders head to Bloomington and Indiana University seeking USA National Championship qualification marks at Indiana University's Gladstein Invitational on January 21st.

Invaders athletes have posted three wins and a couple of Team Records in the 500 meter and 1000 meter races over the first two weeks of January.

Competing in the Invitational 800 on Saturday will be James "Jimmy" O'Brien, Jason Springer and Ricardo Bell all having posted personal best marks for indoor distances in the first two weeks of the season.

James "Jimmy" O'Brien, 4th at the 2011 USA Indoor National Championships 800, will lead the Invaders 800 meter efforts having posted a section win at 800 meters last weekend at the Kentucky Inviatational along with posted a PR 2:24.92 for 1000 meters a week earlier at the IU Open. Newcomer to the Invaders roster, Jason Springer, fresh off a season best opening mark for 800 meters last weekend and a recent PR of 2:25.50 for 1000 meters will join Ricardo Bell a former USA Indoor National Finalist at 800, in the team efforts to post early season USA Qualification marks for 800 meters.

Racing in the Invitational 600, a non-USA Championship qualification distance, will be Invaders roster rookie Drake Sterling who is fresh off a Life Time Best mark for 800 meters in a section win at the University of Kentucky Invitational along with having recently posted a Team Record for 1000 meters (2:24.14)

Coach Greg Harger said, "Recent training has gone well for the guys racing this weekend so notable finish time improvements on the track are in order this weekend". Harger added, "With currently hard workouts generally geared toward peak indoor performances at the end of February we are hopeful we can still start posting USA Qualification Marks for Indoor Nationals as early as this weekend in Bloomington".

The Indiana Invaders, a not-for-profit organization competing at USA National Championships since 1999, provide a resident-based, athlete-centered support system based in Indianapolis, Indiana.