While track and field gets the spotlight in the Summer Olympics, the sport has long been a consistent favorite among high school athletes, both boys and girls, who compete in both indoor and outdoor facilities.
To meet the demands of athletes of all ages and ability levels, a growing number of destinations are identifying track and field as a sports tourism priority and offering new or recently renovated facilities. Here are eight frontrunners.
Cabarrus County, North Carolina
Completed in October 2023 and located on the campus of Jay M. Robinson High School, the Jay M. Robinson Mondo Track & Field Facility in Concord features an eight-lane, 400-meter track with a Mondo Super X 720 surface, seating for 3,750 and a full range of throwing and jumping areas. The venue is within close proximity of Cabarrus County’s 3,000 hotel rooms.
Currently, the complex hosts 10 meets from April through July. Competitions range from youth events such as the USATF-NC State Association Youth Meet and the North Carolina Middle School State Championship, to collegiate competitions including the USA South Conference Championship.
“A typical event held at this facility draws anywhere from 500 to 3,000 athletes in addition to spectators,” says John Poole, Explore Cabarrus County’s senior vice president of sales and services. “To date, the venue has hosted several events that have generated a total of more than $5.8 million in economic impact in Cabarrus County.”
Poole also points out, “Thanks to track groups in the community and the Jay M. Robinson facility, track and field events are growing rapidly in Cabarrus County, and we look forward to welcoming all the visitors these events bring to our destination. We welcome anyone who is looking to host a track meet, from youth to masters.”
Clay County, Florida
The Clay County Regional Sports Complex sits on 250 acres of land near Belmore State Forest and is the first of its kind in Clay County.
“Clay County hosts three to four track and field events a year,” says Cher Malta, tourism marketing manager, Clay County Board of Commissioners. “Our destination plans to expand the Clay County Regional Sports Complex. Phase 2 is upcoming with potential indoor facilities and outdoor cross country courses.” She adds, “Overall, our region has seen more than 1,000 athletes in track and field events with over $70,000 in accommodations impact. This year, one of our most popular events, the Mud Run at Seamark Ranch, plans to expand its event by adding in a Farmers’ Market with over 30 vendors and food trucks [that will] attract more spectators and local economic impact to the community.”
Looking ahead, Clay County wants to welcome a wide range of demographics for track and field events, including youth, collegiate, adult and masters-level athletes. “We are interested in building partnerships with regional and national event organizers to attract more track and field events,” Malta says.
Columbia, Missouri
In Columbia, much of the track and field action takes place at Battle High School, Rock Bridge High School and Hickman High School, as well as at the University of Missouri’s Hearnes Center Fieldhouse. All three high schools offer a 400m track with six lanes, eight-lane 100m sprints and dedicated throwing and jumping areas.
The newly renovated Hearnes Fieldhouse Indoor Track features a 200-meter, 21-meter radius, 12-degree banked Mondo track with throwing areas, jumping pits and 60-meter dash sprinting lanes, plus seating for 300. The track can also be taken apart and set up in a different location. Adam Ziervogel, tourism sales manager, City of Columbia CVB/Sports Commission, says that with the addition of this track, “We are looking at more indoor events to see what the facility can accommodate.”
Most of the track and field events held in Columbia consist of youth competitions and showcases along with some high school and limited collegiate meets. “We look more at the youth and college-age events and those events that are not professional,” explains Ziervogel. “The largest outdoor track and field event that our city holds is a one-day showcase that features 100 clubs. A majority [of participants] come from inside the state but there is some visitation from teams in Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The indoor track draws regionally and has a team that travels from our neighboring states as well as North Dakota and Indiana.”
Fort Wayne, Indiana
With USA Track & Field headquartered in Indianapolis, and with Fort Wayne home to powerhouse NAIA and NCAA programs, this locale has the experience to host all types of track and field events.
Two universities and an Olympic training center offer indoor tracks that can host events year-round. Indiana Tech’s Warrior Park has an indoor six-lane oval track with a turfed infield, and an outdoor track with multiple spaces for throwing events. Purdue University Fort Wayne’s 65,000-square-foot Lutheran Health Fieldhouse provides an indoor six-lane, 200-meter track with Mondo Super X Surface and hardcourt infield.
There is also Turnstone Center, one of nine Olympic and Paralympic training sites in the U.S., including the 90,000-square-foot Plassman Athletic Center that features a 230-meter indoor track. Rounding out the mix is the 5k outdoor Mastodon Cross County Course.
Most recently, the Horizon League’s 2025 Indoor Track & Field Championship was held at Purdue Fort Wayne’s Athletic Center. Turnstone has also been the annual host for AAU track meets, and Indiana Tech has continued to be a host for the USA Track & Field Masters Division for indoor and outdoor.
“Fort Wayne, Indiana is an established sports hub of the Midwest region with nationally recognized organizations continuing to set the bar for high-caliber tournaments,” says Jazmin Zavala, sports sales manager, Visit Fort Wayne. “The Fort Wayne community is passionate about hosting these events and commits to providing a first-class experience for athletes, coaches, families and fans.”
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is home to three premier track and field venues. Texas Tech University’s Sports Performance Center includes the Peterson Family Indoor Football Practice Facility, an indoor track and field competition complex with seating for 1,500 fans; the Big 12 Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships have been hosted there. The Terry & Linda Fuller Track & Field Complex, also at at Texas Tech, boasts a Super Mondo X surface. Meanwhile, Lubbock Christian University’s Soccer & Track Facility offers an eight-lane track.
This past March, Lubbock hosted the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championship, which drew 838 athletes, 300 coaches and 1,000 spectators. The city also hosted the 2025 Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championship at the TTU Sports Performance Center.
“Each year, the city hosts 12 track and field events, bringing together some of the best competitors in the region and nation, says Ryan Lewis, social media coordinator at Visit Lubbock. “Our modern, state-of-the-art facilities are equipped with top-notch performance gear, ensuring that every event is held at the highest standard. Lubbock Sports is ready to welcome athletes and fans alike to the Hub City.”
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Hosting one to two meets nearly every week throughout the season, Howard Wood Field is the primary venue for track and field events in Sioux Falls. The nine-lane, 400-meter track has dedicated areas for jumping and throwing, as well as stadium seating for more than 10,000 spectators. The facility is located next to the Sioux Falls Convention Center, providing even more event flexibility, notes Brandon Vant Hul, sales manager for Experience Sioux Falls.
The venue hosts two major high school events annually: The Howard Wood Dakota Relays, a two-day meet that draws more than 3,000 athletes (estimated economic impact of $2 million); and the three-day South Dakota High School Activities Association State Track & Field Meet (estimated economic impact of $1.5 million). Howard Wood Field also hosts six middle school competitions annually, including the Middle School Metro Athletic Conference Track & Field Meet, the third-largest event held at the site. “The Sioux Falls Marathon also utilizes Howard Wood Field as a key part of its course, further cementing the venue’s role in supporting large-scale, high-profile events,” says Vant Hul.
“Howard Wood Field and the city of Sioux Falls are always willing to have discussions and consider new events at Howard Wood Field,” Vant Hul says. “The next step could be looking into college events since Sioux Falls is home to DII Augustana University and University of Sioux Falls. Additionally, there could be opportunities to host USATF Dakotas region meets in the future.”
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is home to The Podium Powered by STCU, one of the premier indoor track and field facilities in the nation. Opened in December 2021, The Podium features a 200-meter hydraulic-banked track, one of only a handful in the U.S. The facility hosts world-class events, and its location in downtown Spokane provides walkable access to hotels, restaurants and entertainment.
The Podium can accommodate a variety of competitions, and hosts 10-plus meets annually. It has hosted the 2022 USATF Indoor Championships, and has secured the 2027 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships and the 2028 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships.
“Spokane is home to The Fifth Season, a premier indoor track and field brand designed to grow competitive opportunities in the Pacific Northwest,” says Keytra Lewis, director of marketing and communications, Spokane Sports. She notes that the Fifth Season Series continues to grow, attracting top athletes from across the country. “The 2024/2025 season was one for the books. Over 13,000 spectators cheered on the action, 8,500-plus competitors left it all on the track, and 1,700-plus coaches and nearly 700 officials worked the meets over 29 event days.”
Lewis adds, “Spokane Sports is committed to expanding the impact of The Fifth Season and attracting more national competitions. With our recent success in securing NCAA Championships and expanding our event offerings, we’re committed to ensuring Spokane remains a hub for top-tier competition in the U.S.”
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
This destination is home to JDL Fast Track, the only dedicated indoor track facility in the region. Since opening in 2012, the venue has hosted multiple NCAA National Indoor Track & Field Championships, two USA Track & Field Masters National Indoor Track & Field Championships, several USA Track & Field Masters Southeast Indoor Track & Field Championships and many annual collegiate conference championships.
JDL Fast Track is home to the Camel City Elite races, and is the primary venue for North Carolina High School Athletics and the schools that compete in the indoor season. It’s also the home indoor track facility for Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University. In the 2024-25 indoor season, the facility hosted 55 events (primarily high school and college) and is slated to host an event for Special Olympics, the Piedmont Plus Senior Games and the 2025 Adaptive Recreation & Active Living EXPO.
“We’re excited to announce that JDL Fast Track will be installing a banked track during this off-season and will be ready to host a full schedule of events for the 2025-2026 indoor track and field season,” says Bonny Bernat, senior sports development manager, Visit Winston-Salem. “With the installation of the banked track, we expect that we’ll be looking to once again host NCAA and USA Track & Field Indoor Track & Field Championships, as well as additional collegiate meets.”
Beyond JDL Fast Track, Wake Forest University will host the ACC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May 2025. Also, Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville has a dedicated cross country course that annually hosts the Friday Night Lights XC Festival that draws more than 10,000 athletes and spectators each September. In 2026, the NCAA will compete the DII Cross Country Regionals at the Complex with co-hosts from Visit Winston-Salem and Winston-Salem University. SDM
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