IMG Academy to Host First-Ever Under Armour Track and Field Nationals in Florida
Florida will step onto a national stage in 2026 as IMG Academy prepares to host the inaugural Under Armour Track and Field Nationals, marking the first time the state has been home to a true high school national championship meet. The three-day event is set for May 29–31, 2026, bringing top high school and middle school athletes from across the country to Bradenton.
The championship will unfold on IMG Academy’s cutting-edge Rekortan gel track — currently the only gel-based track in the world — designed to boost energy return and elevate athlete performance. With sprint, distance, hurdle, relay, jump, throw, and multi-event competitions offered, the meet aims to attract elite competitors seeking a fast surface and a high-level environment.
The partnership between IMG Academy and Under Armour introduces Florida to a major new fixture in the youth track landscape. Long known for producing world-class sprinters and rising talent, the state has never hosted a national championship of this scale. Under Armour’s signature Protect This House ethos will anchor the meet, while IMG Academy’s college-style facilities provide a professional atmosphere for emerging athletes.
Recent IMG standouts — including sprinters Davonte Howell and Dylan Woodruffe and long jumper Malcolm Clemons — have moved on to NCAA and national success, underscoring the developmental track record the academy brings to the event. Organizers say the Nationals will give the next generation a similar platform to pursue high-level performance.
Registration for the meet opens Feb. 1, 2026, and closes May 1, 2026. Entries will be selected based on verified marks from the 2025–26 season, with field sizes set by the meet committee. Packet pickup begins May 28. Competition spans Friday through Sunday in both high school and middle school divisions.
The high school championship division will offer a full slate of sprints, distance races, hurdles, relays, throws, jumps, and multi-events, including the boys decathlon and girls heptathlon. Middle school athletes will compete in traditional sprint and distance events, hurdles, relays, jumps, throws, and the pentathlon.
Organizers note that while the high school nationals calendar has grown increasingly crowded in recent years, the IMG Academy Under Armour Nationals introduces a distinctive option: a world-class venue, an innovative track surface, and a performance-centered atmosphere for athletes aiming to test themselves against top competition.
The event adds a new chapter to Florida’s athletic landscape and positions IMG Academy as a major national host site for the inaugural meet, launching in spring 2026.
