2018 Camel City Elite Prize Money Announced

Camel City Elite returns on February 3, 2018 with up to $80k in prize money

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – March 29, 2017 – JDL Fast Track has begun planning for the sixth edition of Camel City Elite, to be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018.   Through its partnership with the Camel City Track Foundation, the 2018 edition of Camel City Elite is poised to raise the bar on prize money for its events, with first place prize money being increased to $6,000!  The goal is to have the highest first and second place prize money of any indoor track meet held in the United States in 2018 for the 800m, mile and 3000m races.

Camel City Elite will invite 3-5 athletes in each event to compete alongside collegiate athletes with the following prize money available:

1^st Place - $6,000

2^nd Place - $4,000

3^rd Place – $2,000

4^th Place - $1,000

5^th Place - $750

6^th Place - $500

7^th Place - $400

8^th Place - $300

In order to offer this increase in prize money, a few changes to Camel City Elite will occur.  First, the events will be limited to just the 800m, mile and 3000m races for men and women.  This eliminates the 60m hurdles races that were held as part of Camel City Elite in 2015-17.  Second, Camel City Elite is eliminating appearance fees for the 2018 edition.  Lastly, for the first time in its history, Camel City will allow the finish place of college athletes participating in Camel City Elite to displace the pros for prize money.

JDL Fast Track facility director Craig Longhurst explains the increase and the rationale for each of the changes.

“These changes in our prize money structure will take us back to our original goal of Camel City Elite, which was to try to qualify individuals for the NCAA indoor championships using the flat track conversions.  By increasing our prize money, we think it will grab the attention of elite athletes in the 800, mile and 3k races and garner more interest from the athletes.”

The decision to eliminate appearance fees was much more difficult.  “Our sport suffers from a transparency issue, whether it refers to prize money, shoe contracts or doping.  Seeing that there are many elements that go into planning and budgeting for an event like this, our goal is to be as transparent as possible with the athletes and agents.  By earmarking all of the money for prize money and eliminating appearance fees, we feel we are achieving that goal while also making things easier on the budget side.”

The final change is the displacement by college or high school athletes in the fields.  Longhurst explained this further.  “We did a thorough review of results from the past editions of Camel City Elite when our prize money focused solely on the professional finishes.  After that review,  we feel that overall placement does matter and the money should respectfully be reserved for the true finish of each athlete.”

The Camel City Track Foundation will again be the primary fundraiser for Camel City Elite, which is also used to increase awareness for the sport of track and field and to encourage physical activity through track and field.  Prize money will be raised through corporate sponsors as well as the popular Crowd Fund, whose supporters can contribute in exchange for exclusive VIP passes to the infield of the races as well as the post-race dinner with the elite athletes.

For more information about Camel City Elite or the Camel City Track Foundation, contact Craig Longhurst via email ([email protected]) or phone (336-722-2033).

ABOUT CAMEL CITY TRACK FOUNDATION (www.camelcitytrackfoundation.com)

The Camel City Track Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization formed to create awareness and promote health, physical fitness and the opportunity to achieve competitive excellence by encouraging participating in track and field.  In addition to supporting Camel City Elite, the Foundation has sponsored other events, including track and field camps, clinics and competitions for all levels of ability.

ABOUT JDL FAST TRACK (www.jdlfasttrack.com)

JDL Fast Track is a privately owned facility that is one of the premier indoor track and field venues in the Southeast. Opened in 2012, the facility houses a 200-meter oval track with a Mondotrack FTX surface—the same surface used at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. With a seating capacity of 1,700, ten HD televisions showing real-time field event results, and five high definition projector screens for video playback, JDL Fast Track offers fans a unique track and field experience.

To date, JDL Fast Track has hosted four national championships:  2014 NCAA Division II, 2015 NCAA Division III, 2015 USATF Masters Indoor and 2016 NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.  JDL Fast Track is scheduled to host the 2019 USATF Masters Indoor Championships.