When was the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in 2026?
The 2026 Jimmy Carnes Invitational opened the Florida indoor season January 15 and 16 at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center in Gainesville. Thursday was for non-Division I college, open and masters athletes, and Friday was the Division I university section with invited professionals. The Gainesville Sports Commission hosts it. 2027 dates are not posted yet.
event Next edition
The Gainesville Sports Commission has not posted 2027 dates. In 2026 it was the first meet of the indoor season at the center, in mid-January.
Confirm dates on the Visit Gainesville: indoor track season page before you travel.
Jimmy Carnes Invitational at a glance
- Host
- Gainesville Sports Commission
- Venue
- Alachua County Sports and Events Center, 4870 Celebration Pointe Ave., Gainesville
- Track
- Mondo 200m banked oval, six lanes, plus an eight-lane sprint straight
- Season
- Indoor, mid-January (season opener)
- Who competes
- College (all divisions), open, masters and invited professionals
- 2026 teams included
- Florida, Miami, USF and North Florida, among others
- Named for
- Jimmy Carnes, USATF Hall of Fame, first president of The Athletics Congress
How the Jimmy Carnes Invitational works
The meet splits by level. On Thursday, January 15, 2026, the first day was for non-Division I colleges, open athletes and masters, with the first event at 9 a.m. Friday, January 16, was the Division I university section, which also takes invited professionals. Florida, Miami, USF and North Florida all opened their 2026 indoor seasons here.
USF's meet notes laid out the format: four attempts in the horizontal jumps and throws, seeding from TFRRS marks, and heats against time for every running event except the 60 meters and 60 hurdles, which had prelims and a final of eight.
The track is the draw. The center has Florida's only indoor banked track, a 200-meter Mondo oval. Times on a banked 200 are not a straight comparison with an outdoor 400-meter track. Our Alachua County Sports and Events Center guide covers parking in the Celebration Pointe garages and the rest of the indoor schedule.
Who was Jimmy Carnes?
Jimmy Carnes is in the USATF Hall of Fame. He was the first president of The Athletics Congress (1980 to 1984), as USATF was first known, and helped move the sport from amateur to open rules. He founded the Florida Track Club in Gainesville, whose members included Frank Shorter and Marty Liquori, and later led the United States Track Coaches Association. He died in 2011.
Jimmy Carnes Invitational dates and results
| Year | Dates | Notes | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | January 15-16, 2026 | Thu., Jan. 15: non-D1 college, open and masters. Fri., Jan. 16: D1 universities and invited professionals. Visit Gainesville listed the event window as Jan. 15-18. |
Frequently asked questions
Do high schools run at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational?
Not in 2026. The two TFRRS result sets are college, open and masters on January 15 and Division I universities on January 16. High school indoor meets at the same building include the Sunshine Showcase and the Florida High School Indoor Championships.
Where is the Jimmy Carnes Invitational held?
At the Alachua County Sports and Events Center, 4870 Celebration Pointe Ave. in Gainesville, a quarter mile west of I-75 at Archer Road.
Sources: Visit Gainesville: Sports and Events Center track season (2026 schedule);gousfbulls.com: USF opens 2026 indoor season at Jimmy Carnes Invitational (format, day split);floridagators.com: Gators season opener recap (Jan. 16, 2026);TFRRS: 2026 Jimmy Carnes D1 University Invite;TFRRS: 2026 Jimmy Carnes College, Open and Masters;USATF: Jimmy Carnes Hall of Fame bio. Dates, hosts and venues checked October 18, 2026. Spot a change? Tell us.