The stage is set as spring blooms across the nation to mark the start of various prestigious track and field meets. With the track and field season in full swing, athletes will hit the floor running in a quest to set PRs, break records, and place in the top spots at these elite meets.
From the sun-drenched tracks of California to historic grounds in Philadelphia, high school athletes are expected to showcase their speed and skill on the biggest stages of the sport.
These are the most elite events that attract the top high school track and field athletes from around the U.S. each year.
The Top Prestigious Track And Field Meets
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Arcadia Invitational
Date: April 5-6, 2024
Location: Arcadia, California
The Arcadia Invitational is a historic prestigious meet held annually that brings out the top athletes in its distance races, relays, and field events.
This year, close to 4,000 athletes attended the 2024 Arcadia Invitational. Highlights include Sadie Engelhardt (Ventura) breaking the National High School Federation record for 1600 meters with 4:32.48 en route to her 4:34.31 full mile. Marcelo Mantecon (Belen Jesuit, FL) broke the national frosh 3200-meter record with 8:50.02.
Brooks PR Invitational
Date: June 12, 2024
Location: Renton, WA
Organized by Brooks Running, this is one of the fastest high school track meets. For that reason, only the top 8-16 fastest US middle school and high school athletes in each event are invited to attend. Events include 100-meter, 100 hurdle, 110 hurdle, 400-meter, 800-meter, 1 mile, or 2 miles. In the middle school division, athletes compete in the 400m, 800m, or 1 mile.
Meet records include Jane Hedengren (UT) running 4:35.69 in the girls’ mile, Simeon Birnbaum (SD) setting the boys mile with 3.59:51, and Andre Korbmacher (WA) with a time of 13.40 in the boys 110m hurdles in 2023.
Great Southwest Classic Outdoor Meet
Date: June 6-8
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
This elite three-day meet includes a practice session and five Special Events that include: The Shuttle Hurdle Relay, 2000 meter steeple chase, 4 x 200 meter relay, 4 x 800 meter relay, and 400 intermediate hurdles.
The second day features the athletes from each state parading their state flag and features all track and field events. The event concluded with an award ceremony and an athlete dance party.
USA Track & Field (USATF) Junior Olympics
Date: July 22-28, 2024
Location: College Station, TX
The USATF Junior Olympics is the most prestigious competition in the sport for youth track and field athletes. Athletes compete at the highest level. Prerequisites include local and regional qualifiers, association championships, USATF regional champions, and USAATF national championships.
If an athlete makes it to this elite event, they will have their talent showcased on a national stage.
In 2023, Quenton Lanese (Olympia, Washington/USATF Pacific Northwest) broke his own record set the previous year by winning the 11-12 boys 3000-meter by almost 17 seconds in 9:26.59.
Nike Outdoor Nationals
Date: June 12-15
Location: Eugene, OR
Sponsored by the giant sports brand, the Nike Outdoor Nationals is open for athletes in grades 6-12 who meet qualifying standards.
Kelsie Belquist (New Rockford-Sheyenne) set three records, winning four events at Nike Outdoor Nationals in 2023. This includes placing eighth in the 100-meter hurdles final with a time of 14.21 seconds and 13th in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:2.26 seconds. She finished the prelims in 20th place with a time of 24.71 seconds.
Matt Wisner (OTC) placed first in the men’s 1500-meter in a new personal best time of 3:36.87. Hinsdale Central(IL) won the 4 x 800m with the second fastest time in US High School history, 7:29.20. Not only did Mia Brahe-Pedersen(Lake Oswego, OR) won her first Nike Outdoor Nationals race with an NSAF meet record of 11.11 in the 100-meter, but also Madeleine Fey (Midlothian, TX) won her second Nike Outdoor Nationals title in the discus throw with 178-05(54.39m). This ranked her second all-time in NSAF meet history.
New Balance Nationals Outdoor
Date: June 13-16, 2024
Location: Franklin Field, Philadelphia
Athletes have the chance to take home a national title as they compete against qualified athletes oldest college stadium in the U.S. This meet brings major spectators and lots of attention from coaches, recruiters, and media.
Ashyln Poulin took first in the race walk with 7:16.97 in 2023, a meet record. Issam Asinga (Montverde Academy) won the boys 100m final, also setting a meet record with a time of 10.05. Laila Campbell also made a meet record with her 11.42 finish in the girls 100-meter final.
Mt. SAC Relays
Date: April 13 & 17-20, 2024
Location: Walnut, California
Presented by Nike, the Mt. SACE Realys includes a high school, college & university, and elite division at this prestigious meet. The first meet took place in 1959 and continues to be a big event with sponsors like Nike, Garmin, and Gatorade on its roster.
In 2023, this prestigious meet resulted in seven world-leading marks, with three Mt. SAC Relays high school records, two stadium records, and one national record. This includes Rai Benjamin and the world-leading time of 47.74 in the 400-meter hurdles, and Sadie Englehardt (Ventura) finishing the mile in 4:38.53.
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Track and Field Championships
Date: May 24-25
Location: Clovis, CA
High school athletes in California automatically qualify for this state meet, except for five schools that compete in Nevada. Although the meet was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID, this prestigious track and field meet brings out top competitors including more than 50 athletes in 2023.
Pole vaulter Hannah Slover (Los Gatos) pole vaulter cleared the bar at 5 feet, 6 inches on her first attempt. In 2022, Rodrick Pleasant (Serra Gardena) broke the state record with the fastest 100-meter time in California history at 10.14 seconds.