The USATF National Club Cross Country Championships are heading back to Washington for the first time since 2011 and back to Spokane for the first time in a decade.
Spokane's Plantes Ferry Park Sports Stadium, which hosted in 2008, was chosen by the USATF as the course site. The event, to be held in December of 2018, will host approximately 1,500 athletes from 65 running clubs from across the nation.
The Spokane Sports Commission estimates nearly $3 million dollars will be spent and approximately 4,500 hotel rooms could be occupied, boosting the local the local economy.
"Spokane's long reputation as a great running community, along with a history of hosting large and successful cross country events, helped the selection go our way," Eric Sawyer, the President and CEO of the Spokane Sports commission, said in a release.
"We know there are several cities around the country that competed for this event and we are honored that the USATF chose Spokane."
The National Club Cross Country Championships feature distances at 6k, 8k, and 10k, with men's and women's teams competing in masters and open categories.