Colorado amateur track and field includes community all-comers meets, youth club meets and masters competitions at high school and college tracks, mostly in spring and summer.
In this video
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:09 What it looks like
- 0:22 Formats
- 1:32 Build it
- 1:43 Registration
- 1:51 Results
- 2:30 Event day
- 2:41 Fun ideas
- 3:19 Tip
Step by step
Running a track & field event in Colorado? Here's how to plan it, pick a format and run it on Colorado Under Par, start to finish.
What it looks like
Colorado amateur track and field includes community all-comers meets, youth club meets and masters competitions at high school and college tracks, mostly in spring and summer.
Formats
- All-Comers Meet
- An open meet where anyone can enter any event regardless of age or ability.
- Sprints / Middle Distance
- Races from 100 meters to 1,600 meters run in heats on the track.
- Distance / Road
- Longer races like 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, or road races.
- Relays
- Teams of four each run one leg and pass a baton in a marked zone.
- Field Events
- Throwing and jumping events like shot put, discus, long jump and high jump.
- Cross Country
- Runners race across grass and dirt courses, usually 2 to 5 miles.
- Combined Events
- Athletes compete in several events in one or two days, like a pentathlon or decathlon.
- Family Standing Long Jump
- Parents, kids and athletes take turns at a standing long jump in the sand pit, with a chalk leaderboard. Easy, safe and fun for everyone.
- Pledge Per Lap Relay
- Teams collect pledges for every lap they complete in a set time on the track. Schools and clubs love the friendly competition.
- Podium Photo Moment
- Winners stand on a real podium with medals and a mountain backdrop for photos. Keep a yearly record board for meet records.
Build it
In the Organizer Dashboard, click Create event and pick track & field and your format. Every tab, word and Start here guide then follows your sport.
Registration
In Registration, ask what you need from each entrant, like events you are entering and seed time, if you have one.
Results
Open Course map and race info to upload a GPX file or draw the route, and pin the start, finish, water and parking. Bibs are automatic: set the first bib and every entrant gets the next number when they register. Time it with the phone finish line link, which works with no signal, or upload your timer's results file. Pick age groups and awards, and every entrant gets a results email when you post them. For heats and lanes, entrants add a seed time, heats are seeded fastest last, and everyone sees their heat and lane on their ticket.
Event day
Athletes check in and pick up bibs, warm up, report to their event when called, compete in heats or flights, then results post and awards follow.
Fun ideas
Make it memorable. Three ideas people love. Family Standing Long Jump. Parents, kids and athletes take turns at a standing long jump in the sand pit, with a chalk leaderboard. Easy, safe and fun for everyone. Pledge Per Lap Relay. Teams collect pledges for every lap they complete in a set time on the track. Schools and clubs love the friendly competition. Podium Photo Moment. Winners stand on a real podium with medals and a mountain backdrop for photos. Keep a yearly record board for meet records.
Tip
One tip for first-timers: post a timed event schedule and stick to it, and recruit volunteers for each field event, since they run at the same time as track races. Building is free, then 1% per paid order plus card processing, paid to your own Stripe account. Stuck? Ask Caddie or search Need help in your dashboard. Start at coloradounderpar.com/sell-tickets.
Questions organizers ask
What formats can you use for a track & field event?
Common track & field formats include All-Comers Meet, Sprints / Middle Distance, Distance / Road, Relays, Field Events, Cross Country, Combined Events, Family Standing Long Jump, Pledge Per Lap Relay and Podium Photo Moment. On Colorado Under Par you pick one when you create your event, and every tab and the Start here guide follow it.
What should you ask track & field participants when they register?
In Registration, ask what you need from each entrant, like events you are entering and seed time, if you have one.
What happens on the day of a track & field event?
Athletes check in and pick up bibs, warm up, report to their event when called, compete in heats or flights, then results post and awards follow.
How much does it cost to run a track & field event on Colorado Under Par?
Building the event is free. When you sell registrations or sponsorships, CUP charges 1% per paid order plus card processing, and the money goes to your own Stripe account. Listing an event on the Colorado Under Par calendar is free.
