The Indiana Outdoor Track & Field State Finals are set to return to Indianapolis for the boys and girls this upcoming spring after nearly 20 years in Bloomington, excluding 2020 and 2021. The North Central Panthers are no strangers to hosting the event, having previously done so from 1972 to 1982 and again in 1997, according to the IHSAA record book.
Their stadium, situated just south of 86th Street, has recently undergone renovations, now boasting a brand-new 10-lane track-one more than Bloomington. The facility also features a video board, a two-story press box, and seating for 4,000 spectators, offering more permanent seating than the 3,200 at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex.
The press release also announced the dates for next year's finals, with the boys' event scheduled for Friday, June 6, and the unified and girls' finals taking place the following day, Saturday, June 7.
The relocation of the finals to Indianapolis provides a more centralized location for high schools across the state to compete in the season's most crucial meet. Additionally, with USA Track & Field announcing the move of their national headquarters to the campus of IU Indianapolis, there is growing speculation about the future hosting potential of Carroll Stadium, including state finals. Carroll Stadium, with a capacity of 12,111, has a storied history, having hosted significant events such as state finals, the Pan American Games, and the Olympic Trials.
For now, we look forward to North Central's opportunity to host the pinnacle of Indiana high school track and field in 2025. In the last 120 years of boys state meet history Indianapolis has had a host site in 84 of those years while also hosting the girls state meet in 32 of its 50 year history. Find where each host site was at below.
Years in Which the State Finals have been in Indianapolis (information found in the IHSAA track & field boys & girls records books)
1915: Federal League Park (boys only)
1923-1929: Arsenal Tech High School (boys only)
1930-1938: Butler University Field (boys only)
1939-1971: Arsenal Tech High School (boys only)
1972-1973: North Central High School (boys only)
1974-1977: North Central High School (boys & girls, first state finals for girls was 1974)
1978-1979: Warren Central High School (girls only)
1978-1979: North Central High School (boys only)
1980-1982: North Central
1983-1996: Carroll Stadium (IU Indianapolis, formerly IUPUI)
1997: North Central High School
1997-2003: Carroll Stadium (IU Indianapolis, formerly IUPUI)
2021: Ben Davis High School
2025: North Central High School
Related:
The Indiana Outdoor Track & Field State Finals are set to return to Indianapolis for the boys and girls this upcoming spring after nearly 20 years in Bloomington, excluding 2020 and 2021. The North Central Panthers are no strangers to hosting the event, having previously done so from 1972 to 1982 and again in 1997, according to the IHSAA record book.
Their stadium, situated just south of 86th Street, has recently undergone renovations, now boasting a brand-new 10-lane track-one more than Bloomington. The facility also features a video board, a two-story press box, and seating for 4,000 spectators, offering more permanent seating than the 3,200 at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex.
The press release also announced the dates for next year's finals, with the boys' event scheduled for Friday, June 6, and the unified and girls' finals taking place the following day, Saturday, June 7.
