Multiple athletes will be chasing the World Championship "A" Qualifying Standard in the 800 and 1500 at the American Milers Club High Performance Series. Races are scheduled for the evenings of July 6th, July 9th, and July 12th with races in Bloomington on the 6th and 9th and Center Grove, Indiana on the 12th.

After taking fourth at the 2005 US Outdoor Championships in June, Scott McGowan, of New Balance, is going after the World "A" Standard in the 1500. McGowan has a current qualifying time of 3:37.73, but needs a time of 3:36.20 to be eligible for the US National Team that will compete in Helsinki, Finland in August. McGowan will compete on July 9th and 12th against a formidable list of competitors.

Robert Gary, a two-time Olympian in the steeple chase, has just entered the field and will be racing in the 3,000 meter steeple chase on July 6th. Gary has already met the World Championships qualifying standard of 8:24.60 to represent the United States at the 2005 World Championships. He will be joining Brian Olinger and Lyle Weese as they chase a World "A" Standard mark.

2005 NCAA Steeple Chase Champion, Victoria Mitchell of Butler University, will headline the women's 3000 steeple chase on July 6th as she tunes up for the World University Games.

Christian Smith, of Kansas State University, was the eighth place finisher at the 2005 US Outdoor Championships and will compete in the 800 on all three days of the American Milers Club series. The World Championship "A" qualifying standard is 1:45.40 in the 800.

The 1500 throughout the series also has an impressive number of US Championship athletes chasing qualifying marks for not only the World "A" standard but also for next year's US Outdoor Championships in Indianapolis. The fields also include 1500 meter USA Championship finalists Jason Jabaut (NIKE Farm Team), Sean Jefferson (Indiana University), and Dan Wilson (Zap Fitness/Asics).

The 800 fields will also include 2005 US Outdoor Championship 800 finalist Timothy Dunne along with 2004 Olympic Trials Finalist Jacob Koczman (Indiana Invaders).

Invaders Director Greg Harger said, "This series could impact the USA's team for the World Championships in Helsinksi and definitely will impact next year's National Championship field in Indianapolis. Multiple athletes are fit and going after fast times. We'll see some of the best racing in the US this season from this series as people go head-to-head right from the gun." Harger added, "They're not likely to leave anything on the track since this race atmosphere is all about racing fast. We're going to see some exceptional races out of several athletes since they are all coming here for one reason, to run fast!"

American Milers Club High Performance Series:
www.nftl.net/events/2005/american_milers.asp

The American Milers Club High Performance Series is an outgrowth of meets hosted by the Indiana Invaders in 2004 to meet the needs of Elite Athlete Development programs from throughout the country. For the July 12th meet there will also be open and community races at the venue.