Runners looking for sucess on national level

Several IU track and field distance runners headed to Indianapolis to participate in the Smith and Barney Invitational during the last weekend of January.\nThe field for the 5000-meter, and various other events, included professional and unattached collegiate athletes to challenge the college athletes. The Hoosiers met this challenge in a big way. \nJunior Chris Powers earned his provisional mark by placing third overall in the race with a time of 13:59 in the 5000-meter. This mark qualified him for nationals and broke the IU indoor 5000-meter record, smashing Bob Kennedy's 11-year hold on the record. \n"It was one of the first times I have been genuinely happy with one of my races," Powers said.\nSophomore Bart Phariss finished eighth in the race with a time of 14:12. That time was a mere two seconds off Kennedy's old mark. This time also gave Phariss a NCAA provisional mark. Despite his strong performance, he was not satisfied.\n"I know I am going to run better in two weeks," Phariss said. "I am trying to qualify for nationals and it will probably take 14 minutes and four seconds." \nFor Powers, the pressure has been lifted. He can now get ready for Penn State and the Big Ten Indoor Championships.\n"I don't really plan on changing a whole lot," he said. "It was a great breakthrough race for me because I broke into the elite distance running group in the country."\nCompeting for a Big Ten title in the 5000-meter indoor championship is something both athletes are ready to do. Cross country Coach Robert Chapman said he believes they can do it.\n"The Big Ten is unbelievably deep, but we are definitely on a hot streak right now," he said. "These guys will certainly step to the line thinking they can win. I don't think anyone would intimidate them right now." \nWith that in mind the runners are also trying to qualify for the NCAA indoor championship. The Jan. 26 race showed that Phariss and Powers are able to compete on the national level.\n"They know what they can do now and just have to be prepared and ready to do it," Men's track and field Coach Marshall Goss said. "The biggest challenge in athletics is being able to perform at the level you have to perform and are able to perform."\nFreshman Stephen Haas also participated in the meet unattached to a team because he red-shirted this season for the Hoosiers. Haas plans on participating at the USA Winter Cross Country Championships. He is also going to attempt to qualify for USA in the Junior (19 and under) Men's 8000 meters. \nIf he finishes in the top six then he will compete in the World Cross Country Championships. Phariss said he thinks Haas will do well.\n "I think he can win it," Phariss said. "I think he is the best junior in the country."\nWith all the team's current success, the atmosphere around practice has lightened up.\n"It is a lot more fun. The hard work is paying off and we are having success," Powers said. "It is a huge step from where this program was when I was a freshman"