Alachua County will be in the national athletics spotlight this week as nearly 1,200 elite athletes compete in two major championship events at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center and the Celebration Pointe streets surrounding the facility.
The back-to-back competitions close out the county’s eight-week indoor track season and underscore Alachua County’s growing reputation as a premier destination for high-level sporting events and bringing top athletes from across the nation to a world-class championship setting.
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletic (NAIA) Indoor Track & Field National Championships
The final track meet of the 2026 indoor season, the 61st Annual Men’s and 46th Annual Women’s NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships, will be held Thursday, March 5, through Saturday, March 7.
A total of 1,191 student-athletes representing 122 institutions have met qualifying standards to compete for national titles.
“The NAIA Championships represent the culmination of an incredible indoor season here at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center,” said Stephen Rodriguez, Sports and Events Manager for Alachua County Tourism and Economic Development. “Over the past eight weeks, we’ve welcomed thousands of athletes, coaches, and fans from across the country. Hosting a national championship like this reinforces that Alachua County has the facilities, expertise, and community support to deliver world-class events.”
NAIA Championship Tickets & Viewing
USA Track & Field (USATF) Race Walking World Team Trials and Invitational
Championship weekend continues Sunday, March 8, at 8:15 a.m., when USA Track & Field (USATF) brings the 2026 USATF Race Walking World Team Trials and Invitational to the course surrounding the Alachua County Sports & Events Center in Celebration Pointe.
View the 2026 USATF RW World Team Trials & Invitational Facility Map.
Elite athletes from across the nation will compete for a spot on Team USA at the Race Walking World Championships. Alachua County was selected to host the event based on its world-class facilities and the proven success of the course, which previously hosted the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships race walking competition in 2025.
Traffic Advisory and Access Information
Sunday, March 8, 2026
To support the race-walking competition, a temporary road closure will be in effect on SW 43rd Street (north of the Hom Hotel + Suites and south of The Vibe Apartments) from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Detours: Visitors should use SW 45th Street or Celebration Pointe Avenue during the closure. View the road closure map.
For more information call Sports and Events Manager Stephen Rodriguez at 352-647-4606. Visit the website at: https://www.visitgainesville.com/sports-and-events-center/
