Contributor: The Nerd
Nebraska doesn't offer an indoor track season, but racing opportunities have dramatically increased this year. If you're aware of other races, shoot us an e-mail at jayslagle@hotmail.com and we'll add it.
Sunday, December 11: Concordia University, Seward, NE (1st of 3 meets). 200-meter track, limited entries, 6 field events and 6 running events up to 1600 meters. Two-hour meet from 3:00 to 5:00.
Saturday, January 7: Pittsburg State high school meet, Pittsburg, KS. 300-meter track. The registration link was not active as of 11/20/22 but the 2018 schedule reflected races from 60 meters to 3000 as well as four field events (no weights). A 300-mile trip from Omaha or Lincoln so likely not a great option for most Nebraskans.
Saturday, January 7: HyVee Arena, Kansas City (1st of 2 meets) for youth and high school athletes. 350-meter track, no field events. The registration and information link was not active as of 11/19/22. The 2021 schedule for of the HyVee events shows races from 60 meters to 3000, with multiple 800 and mile races at the 15/16 and 17/18 level. The 17/18 800/mile winning times were 2:15/5:08 (girls) and 2:02/4:22 (boys) so may be worth the trip for top-level racers.
Saturday, January 14: Washburn University, Topeka, KS (1st of 2 meets), 165 miles from Omaha and Lincoln. High school athletes only. 200-meter banked track. Three meets on January 16, 23 and 30th lead up to a championship meet on February 13. Running events from 60 meters to 2-mile as well as six field events.
Sunday, January 15: College of St. Mary, Omaha (1st of 3 meets). High school athletes only. Newer facility with 200-meter track that will certainly bolster CSM's young track program. Running events range from 60 to 1600 meters, with a max of 24 athletes per running event and 16 athletes per field event on 1/15 and 1/29. Top finishers from the first two meets have registration priority for third meet on 2/19, but you can still register for 2/19 if you miss the first two meets. Field events include pole vault, shot put, high jump, long jump and triple jump. Here are the details: https://www.csmflames.com/d/Metro_Indoor_Athletics_Challenge_2023.pdf
Sunday, January 22: Concordia University, Seward, NE (2nd of 3 meets). 200-meter track, limited entries, 6 field events and 6 running events up to 1600 meters. Two-hour meet from 3:00 to 5:00.
Sunday, January 22: Northwest Missouri State, Maryville, MO (1st of 3 meets), 115 miles from Omaha. Awesome 300-meter track. Youth and high school meet, and presumably post-high school. Their 2021 and 2022 meets drew competition from as far as Colorado and Arkansas, although there may be less competition with more events on the schedule.
Sunday, January 29: College of St. Mary, Omaha (2nd of 3 meets). High school athletes only. Newer facility with 200-meter track that will certainly bolster CSM's young track program. Running events range from 60 to 1600 meters, with a max of 24 athletes per running event and 16 athletes per field event on 1/15 and 1/29. Top finishers from the first two meets have registration priority for third meet on 2/19, but you can still register for 2/19 if you miss the first two meets. Field events include pole vault, shot put, high jump, long jump and triple jump. Here are the details: https://www.csmflames.com/d/Metro_Indoor_Athletics_Challenge_2023.pdf
Sunday, January 29: Rock Chalk Open HS Meet, University of Kansas, Lawrence. Entries open January 9 and close January 24. Five field events and eight running events from 60 meters to 3000 meters.
Sunday, January 29: Mount Marty University, Yankton, South Dakota. 200m 8 lane indoor track. 2 hour meet from 9:55 am-12:00pm. Events include LJ, SP, 60m Hurdles and 60m Dash (prelims and finals), 400, 800, Mile. Only 2.5 hours from Omaha and one of the only Club/Unattached meet for high schoolers north of Omaha. Registration for the meet: https://register.ryzer.com/camp.cfm?sport=6&id=197980
Sunday, February 5: Concordia University, Seward, NE (3rd of 4 meets). 200-meter track, limited entries, 6 field events and 6 running events up to 1600 meters. Two-hour meet from 3:00 to 5:00.
Sunday, February 12: Concordia University, Seward, NE (Championship meet). 200-meter track, limited entries, 6 field events and 6 running events up to 1600 meters. There are no additional performance or prior meet requirements to register for this meet, but this 4th and final meet will include medals for the top performers based on results at all four meets on 12/12, 1/23, 2/6 and 2/13. Few athletes compete in all four meets and many will only compete in one. We attended several Concordia open meets in 2019 and we were really impressed by them. Keep checking the website for more details.
Saturday, February 18: Washburn University, Topeka, KS (2nd of 2 meets), 165 miles from Omaha and Lincoln. High school athletes only. 200-meter banked track. Three meets on January 16, 23 and 30th lead up to a championship meet on February 13. Running events from 60 meters to 2-mile as well as six field events.
Saturday, February 18: National Indoor Meet, Wichita. High school meet on 2/18, youth meet on 2/19. This was named the Topeka Supermeet in 2022 but has been moved to Wichita for 2023. We believe the meet is still organized by Clifford Wiley, a 1980 Olympian and 400-meter national champion who led the USATF Nationals meet at KU in 2017. Races include 60m, 60mh, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m, plus the long jump, triple jump, shot put and pole vault.
Sunday, February 19: College of St. Mary, Omaha (3rd of 3 meets). High school athletes only. Newer facility with 200-meter track that will certainly bolster CSM's young track program. Running events range from 60 to 1600 meters, with a max of 24 athletes per running event and 16 athletes per field event on 1/15 and 1/29. Top finishers from the first two meets have registration priority for third meet on 2/19, but you can still register for 2/19 if you miss the first two meets. Field events include pole vault, shot put, high jump, long jump and triple jump. Here are the details: https://www.csmflames.com/d/Metro_Indoor_Athletics_Challenge_2023.pdf
Sunday, February 19: Northwest Missouri State, Maryville, MO (2nd of 3 meets), 115 miles from Omaha. Awesome 300-meter track. Youth and high school meet, and presumably post-high school. Their 2021 and 2022 meets drew competition from as far as Colorado and Arkansas, although there may be less competition with more events on the schedule.
https://bearcatsports.com/documents/2022/11/1/Youth_Meet__2_2023.pdf
Sunday, February 26: HyVee Arena, Kansas City (2nd of 2 meets) for youth and high school athletes. Information for 2023 not updated as of 11/19/22 except for dates. 350-meter track, no field events. The 2021 schedule for one of the HyVee events showed races from 60 meters to 3000, with multiple 800 and mile races at the 15/16 and 17/18 level. The 17/18 800/mile winning times were 2:15/5:08 (girls) and 2:02/4:22 (boys) so may be worth the trip for top-level racers.
Monday, February 27: Official start of Nebraska high school track season. High school athletes are prohibited in competing in open events between February 27 and the end of the State meet. Therefore, NE HS athletes should not compete at the NWMSU meet on March 4, although masters and pre-HS athletes may.
Sunday, March 4: Northwest Missouri State, Maryville, MO, 115 miles from Omaha. Awesome 300-meter track. Youth and high school meet, and presumably post-high school. Their 2021 and 2022 meets drew competition from as far as Colorado and Arkansas, although there may be less competition with more events on the schedule.