WIAA State Track & Field Meet expected to bring thousands to La Crosse

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLCX) – The 2024 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Track & Field Championship meet is expected to bring thousands of spectators to La Crosse this week.

On average, the meet draws over 15,000 people, but in recent years, upwards of 20,000 fans attend to cheer on student-athletes from all over the state on May 31 and June 1.

To help people that are coming in from out-of-town, UW-La Crosse, which is hosting the event, has a resource website to help navigate the city and state meet.

The La Crosse Police Department said that the additional traffic will cause some congestion around the meet, downtown, and near hotels. Also, more people in the city means taking extra safety precautions, such as locking doors.

The 2024 WIAA State Track & Field Meet is this Friday & Saturday at @UWLaCrosse! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ #wiaatrack

Get info on tickets, the live stream, results & a peak at the top State qualifying athletes in the official WIAA Preview ➡️ https://t.co/lmwTNbpijy pic.twitter.com/mTROHCGM2I

— WIAA (@wiaawi) May 28, 2024

Health officials said that staying hydrated is important, especially with temperatures reaching the low to mid 80’s this week.

The WIAA and UWL encourage people to buy parking passes beforehand or use the Passport Parking app to avoid any issues. More information on parking, including a map, is available on UWL’s website.

Information on the state meet, including a schedule and heat sheets, is available on the WIAA website. A preview of top qualifiers, links to results, and other information is also available from the WIAA.

The oldest high school track meet in the country, the event has been in La Crosse since 1990. The economic impact for the La Crosse area is estimated to be over $4 million. In 2022, UW and the WIAA signed an agreement to keep the event in La Crosse through 2026.