Alachua County is set to welcome over 3,700 athletes from 99 countries for the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships, beginning Saturday and running for a full week. With coaches, support staff, and supporters, the event is expected to bring over 9,000 visitors to the area, filling the Alachua County Sports & Event Center and West End in Gainesville. The competition is open to masters athletes aged 35 and older, including participants in their 80s and 90s, with the oldest competitor being a 104-year-old sprinter.
This marks the first time the U.S. has hosted the event, which alternates every year between indoor and outdoor championships. The last indoor edition in Toruń, Poland (2023) saw multiple world records, including a 92-year-old setting a new 200-meter record. Alachua County officials see this as a major opportunity to boost the local economy and showcase the region on a global stage. Events will be free for the public to attend, and residents can even participate in a Celebration Pointe 5K on March 29, following the championship’s final race.
The opening ceremony kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, with competition starting Sunday, featuring events from the pentathlon and sprints to long jumps and road races. The Athlete Village at Celebration Pointe will offer live entertainment and vendors, open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. A full schedule and details are available online.
Source: World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships to launch this weekend
