The first Black president of the United States Olympic Committee. The head coach of the USA Olympic Track and Field Team. Members of the National High School Athletics Hall of Fame, the NC Sports Hall of Fame, and the NC High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. National Champions, MEAC Champions, CIAA Champions, and ACC Champions.
From legends like LeRoy Walker, Russell Blunt and Al Buehler calling Durham home, to the numerous championship events that have been held here, it’s no secret why Durham is considered the track and field capital of North Carolina.
Upcoming next, the Durham Sports Commission is excited to welcome back the CIAA for this year’s CIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The event will be held at Durham County Memorial Stadium on May 3-4.
Track and Field in Durham
Since 2000, the Russell E. Blunt East Coast Invitational has brought youth athletes from up and down the east coast to Durham to compete at the highest level of youth track. The official USA Track and Field sanctioned event has been hosted at Durham County Memorial Stadium as recently as 2023. This event has long been sponsored by the Durham Striders Track Club.
In 2019, the Durham Sports Commission also hosted the USA Track and Field Youth Outdoor National Championships. The event brought over 1,000 of the best athletes and spectators to the City of Champions. With the DSC only being seven years old today, the USATF event marked the first time we hosted a national championship as an established nonprofit.
Not only are track and field championships in Durham constant, but track and field is part of the day-to-day fabric of Durham’s sports culture. Durham is home to three youth track and field clubs, which includes USATF Certified Bull City Express Track Club, Triangle Champions Track Club of Durham, the aforementioned Durham Striders Youth Association.
There’s also over 15 different run clubs throughout Durham for runners of all levels. It’s safe to say the track and field community in Durham is as strong as it is anywhere.
About the CIAA
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is one of America’s oldest athletic conferences. The CIAA is also the oldest Historically Black College and University conference in the country. Of the 12 member institutions, 7 are right here in North Carolina.
The CIAA’s mission is to foster an environment that celebrates athletics and education while “honoring the traditions of the past, acknowledging leadership in the present and ensuring communities are positively impacted by the CIAA and its members. We could not be more excited to have an event and organization so aligned with Durham back in Durham this year.
In 2023, the Championships had over 400 participants and over 500 spectators in attendance. Fayetteville State won the 2023 Women’s Championship and Virginia State took the Men’s Championship title.
The CIAA regular season will wrap up on April 27, make sure to follow the regular season results here in preparation for the Championships. Stay tuned for more spectator and Championships information to come.
We hope that the CIAA Track & Field Championships serve as a precursor to Durham winning the bid to host the 2025-2027 CIAA Football Championships, too. After selling out stadiums years ago, the Bull City is eager for more CIAA championships to fill our stadiums. If you missed the announcement of our bid to host, check out this news article.
Durham County Memorial Stadium
Located just north of I-85, Durham County Memorial Stadium was built in 1958. They also completed a major renovation project in 2019, with a new video board added in 2022. The stadium is situated in Northern Durham, right next to Duke Regional Hospital. Durham County Memorial Stadium has hosted numerous championship events, such as the USATF Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championship, the BODYARMOR State Games and the NAIA Football Championship, just to name a few.
Attending the Championships? Make sure to visit Durham’s Roxboro Street near the stadium. Stop by delicious Mexican restaurants like Restaurante Guanajuato and Super Taqueria, both within a couple of miles of the stadium. If you need a break from the heat, stop by La Monarca Michoacana and try one of their over 80 flavors of ice cream. If you’re looking for an activity for the whole family, the Museum of Life and Science is an interactive science museum that is less than a mile from Durham County Memorial Stadium.
For more information on North Durham, check out this Discover Durham Guide to North Durham.