Beginning in 1976, Kingsport track enthusiast Rick Earnest and local coaches had a dream.
They approached Times News Executive Sports Editor Ron Bliss with the idea of an “all-star” track meet putting the best talent from the region on display.
The entry window will on Sunday, March 1 close on Sunday, April 19 at 11 p.m. No further meet results will be taken after the deadline.
The entry fee is $5.00 per accepted athlete and there is a $100 maximum per team. You may bring checks to the meet or have a check mailed. Please make out checks to “Trojan Timing Classic.”
The mailing address is 1811 W. Lakeview Drive, Apt. E5, Johnson City, TN 37601.
There is a maximum of 16 spots available in each individual event and a maximum of nine (9) spots in the relays. All ties in the field events will be accepted.
NEW EVENTS IN 2026:
- Mixed 4×400 Relay (mixture of two boys and two girls; new TSSAA scoring event at the state meet in 2026; entry standard will be based on exhibition of event at the 2025 TSSAA state meet; will be first track event with top nine (9) entries).
- 2000-meter Steeplechase (top 16 entries for boys and girls will be accepted; aiming for New Balance/Nike/Adidas national qualifying times; entry standards will be based on 1600/mile times or a season-best in the steeplechase; NOTE: inside water jump configuration)
- Middle School Showcase 1600-meter run (top 16 entries for boys and girls will be accepted based on season-best times; eligibility will be based on middle schools within the counties list below or by invitation).
Once the final performance list is posted on Tuesday afternoon, whatever is in the meet is in the meet.
Alternates are not able to get into the meet on meet day. Alternates can only get into the meet during the scratch period. The scratch period will be Monday, April 20 and Tuesday, April 21 until noon.
If there is a scratch after the deadline, the open spot will NOT be filled.
Accepted entries will be based on season bests, not personal bests.
If less than 16 athletes and/or nine (9) relays meet the standard in a particular event, that will be what is in the meet. Open spots will NOT be filled with athletes/relay teams that do not meet the standards. Every athlete/relay team must meet the standards to enter the meet.
Ties in the running events will be broken by a superior second-best season performance.
Teams that are eligible are on an invitational basis ONLY.
Field event athletes will get four attempts. There will be live results available at www.trojantiming.com.
If you have to make a change for one of your relay legs that you entered, please notify the timer and fill out a new relay card.
TIMES MUST BE F.A.T. VERIFIED. NO EXCEPTIONS!
The meet will be sanctioned for Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
WHO CAN COME?
In Tennessee, all public and private high schools (Grades 8-12 or 9-12) in the following counties are eligible automatically: Carter, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington.
In Virginia, all public and private high schools (Grades 8-12 or 9-12) in the following counties are automatically eligible: Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe.
ALL OTHER SCHOOLS WISHING TO PARTICIPATE MUST BE ACCEPTED BY THE MEET DIRECTOR. Please email Meet Director Tanner Cook (runtanrun94@gmail.com) or Timer Tim Johnson (trojantiming@gmail.com) for requests.
NOTE: All out-of-area schools will be limited on number of entries per individual event.
School administration asks that teams NOT set up tents on the home side of the bleachers. Instead, teams may set up anywhere else along the outside of the fence on the grounds of the facility.
Unless you have permission from meet management, are an athlete getting ready to compete or a coach, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE INFIELD.
Meet management will post an accepted entries list.
There are entry standards. The table below shows the minimum marks.
| Event | Girls | Boys |
| 100-meter dash | 13.43 | 11.73 |
| 200-meter dash | 28.08 | 23.80 |
| 400-meter dash | 1:05.39 | 53.62 |
| 800-meter run | 2:32.00 | 2:08.00 |
| 1,600-meter run | 5:51.00 | 4:51.00 |
| 3,200-meter run | 13:14.00 | 10:42.00 |
| 100/110-meter hurdles | 19.03 | 17.10 |
| 300-meter hurdles | 53.61 | 44.98 |
| 4×100-meter relay | 55.44 | 48.66 |
| 4×200-meter relay | 1:58.00 | 1:39.00 |
| 4×400-meter relay | 4:42.00 | 3:50.00 |
| 4×800-meter relay | 11:49.00 | 9:18.00 |
| High Jump | 4’7” | 5’9” |
| Pole Vault | 7’0” | 10’0” |
| Long Jump | 14’3” | 18’7” |
| Triple Jump | 31’3” | 38’8” |
| Shot Put | 30’1” | 41’10” |
| Discus | 92’5” | 125’3” |
| Mixed 4×400 relay | 4:11.00 | |
| 2,000-meter Steeplechase (based on 1600/mile time) | 6:00.00/6:02.50 | 4:55.00/4:56.50 |
| 2,000-meter Steeplechase (based on season-best) | 8:50.00 | 6:55.00 |
| 1,600-meter run (Middle School) | 6:05.00 | 5:25.00 |
These standards are calculated based on the average of the last (if fewer than nine participants in the event) or ninth-place (if nine or more participants in the event) finisher over the last 10 editions of the meet.
If your athletes have a mark better than the standards, they will have a good chance at getting in. Just because your athlete meets a standard, however, does not guarantee entry into the meet.
Medals will be given to the top three in every event.
Plaques will be given to the “Most Outstanding” performer on the boys and girls side for both field and running events.
A special ceremony will be held after the field events conclude to recognize the field events performers and at the end of the meet to recognize the running events athletes.
We ask that athletes that are in consideration for the award stick around until the end for photo opportunities with the presenters. The Meet Director will notify a coach if one of your athletes is in consideration.
Questions? Contact Meet Director Tanner Cook via email (runtanrun94@gmail.com).
Trojan Timing Classic 