Toronto announces major 2018 meet: Track & Field in the 6ix

Toronto track fans are going to have something big to talk about next summer. 

If you were one of the hoards of fans who caught the bug during the 2015 Pan Am Games when Toronto hosted, keep Aug. 10 – 12, 2018 clear. That three-day window will see a swell of athletic talent in the city as Toronto is the chosen spot for the 2018 NACAC Track Championships.

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Officially named Toronto 2018: Track & Field in the 6ix, the meet will run at Varsity Stadium with 600 athletes from 31 countries arriving to compete over 40 events on the track and in the field. NACAC (North American, Central American Athletic Associations) is made up of nations in North America, the Caribbean and Central America. It was started in 1988 and is one of six area associations on the IAAF.

Top Canadian talent will of course be representing Canada on home soil. Among our best athletes will be Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse, world medallists Melissa Bishop and Aaron Brown, and upcoming stars such as Brittany Crew and Alysha Newman – both of whom were finalists at the World Championships in London in August.

About 15,000 fans are expected on site during the championships and lucky for Toronto fans, tickets are reasonable starting at $30. Die-hard fanatics can go the extra mile though and get championship passes which are going to include unlimited access to all events at the stadium, reserved seats at the finish line, access to get autographs from favourite track stars and a photo taken with one of Canada’s best-known runners: Andre De Grasse. 

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“Racing at home again as I did in 2015 at the Pan Am Games, in front of friends, family and Toronto’s amazing sports fans will be the highlight of my 2018 season,” said the sprinter. “I plan to arrive in Toronto next August in top form.” 

The draw of competition will be bolstered by a minimum prize purse of $160,000 awarded to the top-three finishers in each event. 

Leading up to the event, the city is going to take advantage of its vibrant Latin American culture and so, both locals and visitors can expect a range of events put on in anticipation of the championships. Similar to the pre-Pan Am vibe, running fans can take part in street exhibitions, athlete intros and see live music performances as well.  

CBC is the official media partner of Athletics Canada and will be providing coverage to Canadian viewers for all three days. Canadian Running will of course also be on the scene. 

To see about early-bird pricing, visit here. Lower fees will offered to those who sign up before Nov. 30. 

List of NACAC countries

Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Canada
Cayman Islands
Commonwealth of Dominica
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Montserrat
Nicaragua
Puerto Rico
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
United States
US Virgin Islands