INDIANAPOLIS (November 20, 2024) – The 500 Festival, in partnership with Indiana Sports Corp, is proud to announce that the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K will host the USA Track & Field 5K Championships on May 3, 2025, and again in 2026. Building on the success of hosting the Half Marathon Championships as part of the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in 2022, the 500 Festival is excited to welcome the 5K Championships to Indianapolis for the very first time.
Event Information
The Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K will kick off before the IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on May 3. Nearly 5,000 participants are expected to hit the streets of downtown Indianapolis, tackling the fast and flat 3.1-mile course. Participants can look forward to a vibrant atmosphere, complete with live entertainment and enthusiastic volunteers cheering them on at every turn. 2025 marks a special milestone as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K, making this event not just a race, but a memorable experience for all.
“It is such an honor to partner with Indiana Sports Corp to host the 2025 and 2026 USA Track & Field 5K Championship at the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K,” said Bob Bryant, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “We are looking forward to welcoming America’s top athletes, new, and returning participants to Indianapolis on May 3, to experience the rich history and cherished traditions of Indy Mini weekend.”
“Indiana Sports Corp is excited to partner with USA Track & Field and the 500 Festival to host the 5K Championship,” said Indiana Sports Corp President Patrick Talty. “We look forward to providing a world-class experience for the nation’s top 5K competitors in the city where champions are crowned.”
The USATF 5K Championships are a major stop on the USATF Running Circuit – a series of road races from one mile to the marathon distance that offers American distance runners competitive opportunities and upwards of $500,000 in total prize money. With a mission to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners since its inception in 1995, the USATF Running Circuit consistently attracts the country’s finest and fastest on the road. This race will also serve as the selection event for the World Athletics Road Running Championships, set for September 2025 in San Diego, California.
Awards & Prize Money
USATF Championship medals, Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K medals, and USATF Running Circuit points will be awarded to the top 10 men’s and women’s finishers. Prize money will be distributed as follows for each gender division:
- 1st place: $7,000
- 2nd place: $6,000
- 3rd place: $3,500
- 4th place: $2,000
- 5th place: $1,000
- 6th place: $900
- 7th place: $700
- 8th place: $600
- 9th place: $500
- 10th place: $300
The total prize purse per gender will be $22,500.
“We're excited to bring the USA Track & Field 5K Championships to Indianapolis during Indy Mini weekend," said Max Siegel, CEO of USA Track & Field. "Partnering with the 500 Festival and Indiana Sports Corp highlights Indianapolis as a top destination for competitive running, and we’re proud to showcase our hometown as a welcoming stage for both elite athletes and the broader running community. This event reflects our commitment to supporting and growing American distance running.”
For Elite Athlete questions, please contact Luke Hays, Registration, Ticketing, and Customer Service Coordinator at the 500 Festival at lhays@500festival.com or 317.614.6148.
For more information on Indy Mini Weekend and the Delta Dental 500 Festival 5K or the IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, please visit the host event page, IndyMini.com or email raceinfo@500festival.com.
About the 500 Festival | Founded in 1957, the 500 Festival is a not-for-profit organization that produces life-enriching events and programs celebrating the spirit and legacy of the Indianapolis 500 and fostering a positive impact on the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. As one of the largest festivals in the nation, each year more than half a million people attend an event or program produced by the 500 Festival. Since its founding, the 500 Festival has contributed more than $500 million in economic value to Indianapolis. To learn more about the 500 Festival, visit 500festival.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About Indiana Sports Corp | Founded in 1979 as the nation’s first sports commission, Indiana Sports Corp is a not-for-profit organization focused on bringing premier sporting events to Indiana to drive economic vitality, facilitate a vibrant community with civic pride and garner positive media attention. Because of this, Indiana Sports Corp is able to provide positive, sports-related opportunities for youth in the community. For more information, please visit IndianaSportsCorp.org.
About USA Track & Field | USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport, and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org