Indiana Runner is excited to host the First Annual IR Friday Night Special Distance-Only Meet on June 7th, 2013 at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.

The track event will take place under the lights and feature an 800, Mile, 2000 Steeple, Community Mile, and 5000. As Meet Director Justin Floyd stated, “We are excited to be expanding our coverage and promotion of running. In the last several years we have made strides to not only be active in covering the sport and reporting on it but actually making physical contributions as well, so I think this outdoor meet falls right in line with that belief.”

This event will focus on allowing runners of differing abilities to compete with very reasonable standards but will not shy away from promoting and hosting elite level races. “Indiana is rich in tradition and near the top of the hierarchy of talented distance runners in the United States. Indiana Runner is obviously the hub for all fans, athletes, and coaches to check in on the latest action with Indiana’s elite athletes, but also, we recognize that our sport is much greater than just those who grab the headlines. There are over ten thousand athletes competing in our sport in Indiana every year. Less than 5 percent of those will qualify for the State Meet”, said Drake Sterling. Indiana Runner’s Justin Floyd went on to say, “We are hoping for a big ground swell from our Indiana athletes and hope to attract several out of state athletes as well.”

The centrally located event hopes to attract runners from all over the Midwest and give the athletes and spectators the best possible experience. The facility will welcome back high school track and field for the first time in years. Carroll Stadium hosted the IHSAA State Meet multiple times over the past 15 years as well as various U.S. Championships, Collegiate championships, and more. The meet will also receive assistance from the American Milers Club Elite Track and Field series held on various Wednesdays and Saturdays in June. Competing athletes in the high school event will receive free entry to the American Milers Club and are encouraged to watch some of the U.S.’s top distance athletes compete for a chance to make the U.S. Championship Team in the days surrounding the IR Meet.

Details about registration will follow early this spring. For now, mark your calendars! The event details are as follows.

Standards (Tentative):
Boys/Girls
800: 2:12/2:40
Mile: 5:00/5:50
2k Steeple: (5:10, 10:45/5:50,12:55)
5k: (5:10 – Mile, 10:45 – 3200/5:50 – Mile, 12:55 – 3200)