FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Greg Harger 317-289-4018 July 21, 2002
GREATER BOSTON WINS TRIPLE CROWN AT USA CHAMPIONSHIPS (INDIANAPOLIS) Greater Boston TC returns to Boston, Massachusetts with three national team titles after successfully running the gamut at the second annual USA National Track & Field Club Championships in Bloomington, Indiana on July 20th, 2002. Greater Boston won the Men's National Team Title, the Women's National Team Title, and the overall National Team Championship Title. Greater Boston's victory on the field of battle upset defending champions Nashville Elite, for the men's national title, and the Indiana Invaders, for the women's national title and the overall national team title. Greater Boston, with a roster of six men, finished third in the race for the men's team title and fourth overall in 2001. In their return in 2002, Greater Boston brought a roster of 25 athletes that got the job done and scored critical points in their bid for a win. The team, for their efforts, will return to Boston with all three of the Traveling Helmet Trophies. Greater Boston's Art Henson and Kourtney Trainor earned Most Valuable Athlete honors, by scoring the most points at the Club Championships, Henson scored 27.5 points, over runner-up Bryon Campbell of North Carolina Elite who scored 25 points, while Trainor scored an impressive 45.5 points to outscore the Top Female Performer of the meet, Crystal Cox of North Carolina Elite, who scored 30 points. Cox rewrote the Club Championship's record book with her win's in the 100, 200, and 400 while earning a 9.2 rating in the 200 with her 22.70 performance. Scott Boothby, of Club Northwest, earned Top Male Performer honors with his 8.6 rated mark in the hammer throw (69.29). Meet Director & Team Director for the Indiana Invaders Greg Harger said, "The growth and competiveness is the most exciting element of the Club Championships. We're looking forward to next year. This meet can definitely be a catalyst to solve our sport's developmental challenges." Harger added, "From a coaching standpoint, this year was a wake-up call. Greater Boston got the job done by recruiting and adding to their roster. We expect that ourselves and other returning teams next year will focus on recruiting and follow Greater Boston's example. We plan on taking the Traveling Helmet Trophies back next year as I'm sure several teams are planning the same outcome for themselves." Harger recalled from last year, "Greater Boston said when they left last year that they would come back and win the meet. And they did. They came back and got the job done. We have nothing but respect and admiration for the way they applied themselves and I expect that the bar will be raised again at next year's meet." Overall, 27 records fell throughout the course of the Club Championship. Five Olympians competed. Athlete participation increased by 75%. 21 clubs, representing an overall membership of over 8700 from communities in 15 states, scored at this year's Club Championships. With only two clubs scoring over 100 points in 2001, six clubs scored over 100 points at this year's championship. TOP 6 TEAMS OVERALL (COMBINED SCORING): 1 Greater Boston TC 355 2 Indiana Invaders 233 3 Club Northwest 124 4 Lords of the Rings 119 5 North Carolina Elite 102 6 Nashville Elite 100 TOP 5 MEN TEAMS: TOP 5 WOMENS TEAMS: 1 Greater Boston TC 181 1 Greater Boston TC 174 2 Club Northwest 124 2 Indiana Invaders 147 3 Nashville Elite 100 3 Lords of the Rings 57 4 Indiana Invaders 86 4 North Carolina Elite 30 5 North Carolina Elite 72 5 Parkside AC 24 USA Club Championships - Complete Results: http://www.indianainvaders.com/releases/02/02_club_championship.html For additional information on the Indiana Invaders, please contact Greg Harger at 317 289-4018 or online at: ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) http://www.indianainvaders.com