Leon County to Host Two USATF 2016 National Championships
at Apalachee Regional Park
This winter, Leon County Government will host two USA Track & Field (USATF) National Championship events at the Leon County Apalachee Regional Park. The events include the USATF Masters 5 KM Cross Country Championships on November 6 and the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships on December 10.
With the addition of these two events, the more than 100-acre Apalachee Regional Park will host nine major events this year, concluding with the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships. The season begins October 7 with the Florida State Cross Country Invitational, followed by the Florida State Cross Country Invitational High School Pre-State Meet on October 8, and a preview event for the Florida High School Athletic Association championship on November 5.
“When the County hosts events of this caliber, we get a chance to showcase our unique quality of life for thousands of visitors,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Bill Proctor. “Facilities like the Apalachee Regional Park don’t happen over night, but the economic impact has continued to grow year after year.”
The November 6 USATF Masters 5 KM Cross Country Championships include races for men and women, 40 years and older, competing in age divisions up to 80 years and older. The December 10 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships feature four races with men’s and women’s teams competing in masters and open categories.
The USATF National Club Cross Country Championships began in 1980 and were last held in Florida in 1998 at Walt Disney World. Deland hosted the USATF Masters 5 KM Cross Country Championships in 2001. This will be the first time that one community hosted both events the same year.
“We are proud to host these national events at the County’s premiere cross country facility,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “Through the work of Leon County Tourism, the entire region--and even the nation--is learning about what we have to offer right here in our own backyard.”
The two meets will attract more than 2,000 runners and more than 4,000 visitors who will use more than 2,750 hotel rooms and bring in nearly $2.4 million in direct spending to Leon County.
Last fall, Apalachee Regional Park hosted four major cross country meets including the FHSAA and Atlantic Coast Conference championships. The community realized nearly $4 million in direct spending from teams and spectators from those meets.
The County’s park is one of the few facilities of its kind in the nation designed for competitive cross country running events. It is also a popular destination for jogging, hiking and mountain biking.
USA Track & Field (USATF):
USA Track & Field is the national governing body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit www.USATF.org .
About the Leon County Division of Tourism Development/Visit Tallahassee:
The Leon County Division of Tourism Development (Visit Tallahassee) is the official tourism marketing organization for Tallahassee–Leon County, Florida, promoting tourism to the area through direct sales, advertising, public relations, sports, film, product development and visitor services. For more information, visit www.VisitTallahassee.com .
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