MARION, Ind. - Over 1300 student-athletes will be traveling to Grant County, Ind. within the next week for the NAIA Men's & Women's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships that will be hosted at Indiana Wesleyan University's Outdoor Track & Field facility.
 
The NAIA Student-Athlete Experience is a night of celebration for what these student-athletes have accomplished over the last year of their academic and athletic pursuits.
 
In partnership with the Grant County Visitor's Bureau, AMC Movie Theaters, and the Indiana Sports Corp, this year's event will be held at the AMC CLASSIC Marion 12 on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, from 5:00 p.m.-8:45 p.m. 
 
"We are extremely grateful to these local partnerships and their commitment to create a fun and entertaining event for the 1,700 plus athletes and coaches," said Steven Gidley, Associate Athletic Director for External Operations. "Our goal was to create something unique that allowed student-athletes to connect with one another in a laid-back environment before toeing the line as opponents starting Wednesday."
 
Local restaurants including Obi's Barbecue, McAlister's Deli, Imagine Burgers & Brew, and Texas Roadhouse, will each have a presence and will be highlighted within the food truck fair that is block-party style with music and a photo booth.
 
After a hearty dinner, student-athletes will get to choose among the following movies: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Fast X, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Sweetwater. This is a private event, and the movie theater has been reserved for this event only.
 
The NAIA student-athlete experience will be the final pre-event activity for student-athletes and coaches before the meet kicks off on Wednesday, May 24, at 10:00 a.m., with the event concluding at 5:50 p.m. on Friday, May 26, 2023, with awards. 
 
To learn more about the NAIA, visit NAIA.org. To learn more about Indiana Sports Corp, visit
Indianasportscorp.org. To learn more about the Grant County Visitor's Bureau, visit
ShowMeGrantCounty.com. To explore Grant County's dining options, click here.




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