ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – World Masters Athletics (WMA), the international governing body for track & field, cross country, road race, and racewalk for athletes 35+, has announced Alachua County, Fla., will host the 2025 WMA Indoor Championships (WMACi25).
This will mark the first time the event has been held in the United States.
“We are confident their team is exceptionally qualified and capable of organizing a world championship as they support over 70 sporting events annually,” WMA Council president Margit Jungmann says. “It will be special having outdoor events in warmer average temperatures than previous championships and returning to North America.”
The WMACi25 is held every two years and features 24 events, including competition in indoor track & field, cross country, road race, and outdoor throwing events over eight days.
In 2024, more than 4,000 athletes participated in the championships in Torun, Poland. The event is estimated to bring over 10,000 visitors to Alachua County in March 2025, with 60 percent coming from international destinations.
“My fellow commissioners and I want to thank the WMA Council and its member federations for choosing us to host this amazing international event. We are excited to welcome the world in 2025. We will provide a wonderful experience for all our regional, national, and international visitors,” states Mary Alford, chair of the Alachua County Commission. “Alachua County’s experience hosting major events; our world-class facilities and amenities; rich sports history; and cultural, natural, and entertainment offerings make it the ideal location for the World Masters Indoor Championships.”
The bid committee is a collaborative effort between Alachua County, Viking Companies, Celebration Pointe, RADDSports, Visit Gainesville/Alachua County, and Gainesville Sports Commission, which began in May 2023. Now awarded, the Alachua County Local Organizing Committee will organize this major international event.
The opening of the Alachua County Sports and Events Center (ACSEC) at Celebration Pointe was key in landing the championships when the center hosted a pre-opening indoor track and field season in early 2023. The announcement comes just ahead of the 2024 indoor track and field series at the ACSEC, featuring 16 total meets, with four collegiate conference championships and a national championship.
