The Iowa High School Track and Field Championships is one of top track meets in the country but it was born out of necessity, Prior to 2005, the boys association and the girls union held their state meets on separate weekends. In 2005 the meets combined to accommodate the renovation schedule at Drake Stadium. IHSAA executive director Tom Keating was a first year high school principal for the first coed meet.

The meet has become so successful that it regularly draws more than 35 thousand fans over three days.

Iowa’s state meet regularly leads the nation in attendance.

The meet is currently operating under a three year contract and Keating sees no reason why it won’t continue.

Jason Eslinger is senior associate director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. He was the publications director in 2005 for the first combined meet.

Eslinger says before the first day was done in 2005 they knew they had something special.

It has become the biggest high school track meet in the country.

Eslinger believes the combined meet is too good to do away with.