The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Niagara Association USATF will host the 2003 Youth Athletics National Track and Field Championships at the University at Buffalo from July 2 through July 6, 2003.
The competition will include more than 3,000 athletes aged 10 through 19 from across the country. In addition to more than 2,000 New York competitors, 600 athletes from California; Florida; Texas; Arizona; Illinois; Michigan; Ohio; Nebraska; District of Columbia; Virginia; North and South Carolina; Pennsylvania; Maryland; Hawaii; Alabama; and Tennessee will participate.
Western New York will be represented by more than 300 athletes from the Chautauqua Striders Track Club; Western New York Jets Track Club; Buffalo Pioneers Track Club; Buffalo Panthers Track Club, Starting Line Track Club; Lockport Track Club; Inner Visions Track Club; and the Southtown Supersonics.
“University at Buffalo and the Niagara Association hosted the USATF National
Junior Olympics in July of 2000, when 21 national track records were broken and
6,900 athletes competed,” said Ron Graham, chairman of the local organizing committee. “The 2000 meet was recognized as the largest track and field meet ever conducted in the country.”
“We’re thrilled that the USATF has returned to Buffalo,” said Richard Geiger, President Buffalo Niagara CVB. “The estimated economic impact on the local economy is in excess of $1miilion and all of the host hotels rooms are booked to capacity.”
“One of the special features of this competition will be the participation of the National USATF IAAF World Youth Team,” added Graham. “The team will leave directly from Buffalo on Monday July 7 and travel to Sherbrook, Quebec where they will compete in the IAAF World Youth Championships from July 9 through 13.”
Admission costs are $6 per day; $15 for a three-day package; and $25 for a full 5-day
event pass. Gates will open at 7:00 a.m. each day. Multi events are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday and track and field events are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
The Niagara Association, in partnership with the Buffalo Niagara Convention &
Vistitors Bureau, is continuing to pursue a multi-year plan to bring all the
major USATF national championships to Buffalo Niagara.
“The events we’re pursuing include the 2004 USATF National Junior Championships; the 2006 National Senior Championships; and the 2008 Olympic Trails,” added Geiger. “Buffalo is in competition with a handful of cities across the country, which have been
identified as possible venues for these championship events.”
The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, as the marketing leader of the Buffalo Niagara hospitality industry, promotes our region worldwide as a convention, tourism, leisure and business destination for the economic benefit of the community.
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