ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Young athletes from across the Midwest are competing in Rockford this weekend at the 2026 AAU Region 13 National Qualifier track meet. Competitors are vying for a chance to qualify for the Junior Olympics. This year marks the first time the event is hosted at the Clarence Hicks Sports Complex, although Rockford has been the host city for this event for 15 years.
More than 1,400 athletes are participating in the qualifier, with nearly 100 representing the local Rockford Fire Track and Field team. Administrators noted that Rockford continues to establish itself as a destination for sports tourism, which benefits both visitors and the community.
Lamont Jones, General Manager of the Clarence Hicks Sports Complex, highlighted the economic advantages this event brings to the city. “Rockford is a great city to visit. But, you know, it’s doing a lot for our economy as well. They’re buying gas at our gas station, eating at our restaurants on the way out, and maybe doing a little bit of shopping as well. So, a lot of people who come in this weekend, they like the City of Rockford.”…