LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - More than 40,000 people are expected to descend upon Lawrence in July 2017 after the city was selected to host the USA Track & Field Junior Olympic Championships
.
The city beat out Des Moines, Iowa, to host the event. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the nation's top track and field athletes between the ages of 7 and 18 will compete at Rock Chalk Park in northwest Lawrence.
Organizers say about 9,500 athletes and 33,000 family
members, coaches and spectators are expected to attend the championships.
Lawrence will have about 1,400 hotel rooms by 2017, far short of what is needed. The city's visitor's bureau is working to arrange rooms in Topeka, Overland Park, Olathe and Kansas City during the championships, which will run July 23 through July 30, 2017.