American Track League set for 10-meet summer series

The series will kick off on May 15 and run through the summer until late August

Ben Snider-McGrath May 3, 2021

After a successful series of indoor events earlier this year, the American Track League (ATL) is set to return with 10 outdoor meets this spring and summer. Starting on May 14 and stretching through to August, the ATL will provide the top athletes in North America and the world with multiple chances to compete, which is a welcome change after so few racing opportunities last summer. Additionally, ESPN will broadcast each of these meets, giving track and field fans the chance to catch their favourite athletes in action.

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The ATL has teamed up with Pro Track Series (PTS) to deliver this 10-meet schedule. Some of the events are ATL-organized, while others are PTS meets. The first is set for May 14 and 15 in Irvine, Calif., at Sound Running‘s Track Meet. After that, the series will move around the U.S., making stops in Tennessee, Iowa and Georgia, along with three other stops in California throughout the summer.

The final two meets of the series have not been nailed down yet, although the penultimate stop on the calendar is scheduled for August 18 in the Pacific Northwest (no specific city or venue has been chosen yet). The final meet doesn’t have an official date or a location at this time.

Beside giving athletes a chance to compete and to win some prize money at individual events, the ATL has introduced a series standings system for added incentive to enter these meets. Athletes will be awarded points for each of their performances at the various ATL meets they enter, and at the end of the summer, the top men and women will receive bonuses. The overall series prize purse will be awarded to the top 15 men and women.

Canada’s Andre De Grasse competed in the indoor ATL series earlier this year. Photo: Maxine Gravina

“This is something that the participating athletes should be proud of,” said ATL founder Paul Doyle. “This is a platform that has been built by the athletes for the athletes and it has me feeling really positive about the future of the sport.” Doyle said the viewing figures from the indoor ATL series exceeded expectations on ESPN, and he is excited to see how the summer meets are received by North American track fans.

For the full ATL schedule and to learn more about the summer series, click here.

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