Nike - the powerhouse shoe and sports apparel company - on Monday picked Sioux Falls to host its high school Nike Team Nationals Heartland Region Cross Country Championships on Nov. 10.
It's a decision city tourism officials hope will help draw more sporting events to Sioux Falls, providing a boost to the local economy.
Sioux Falls beat out Minneapolis to host the event, which will be at Yankton Trail Park and which tourism officials say is forecast to have a $600,000 economic effect on the community.
Teams from South Dakota and six other states will compete in Sioux Falls for the opportunity to race in the Dec. 1 national meet in Portland, Ore. The best 25 boys and girls high school cross country teams in the region will compete.
"It's quite a prestigious event for us to be chosen for," said Teri Ellis Schmidt, executive director of the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Schmidt called the event "a door opener" and said it could give Sioux Falls the reputation needed to draw future sporting events.
Additionally, cross country athletes will be able to try out the course at a preliminary meet before the main competition, which increases the competition's economic benefit, she said.
"It basically gives the city two hits for the same event," Schmidt said.
Mayor Dave Munson, a former cross country coach, said to host large sporting events such as the Nike race offer a chance to showcase Sioux Falls' businesses, its sports arenas and build the city's word-of-mouth for hosting other events.
"It really was a team effort to bring this event to Sioux Falls," Munson said.
Sioux Falls secured a three-year contract with Nike to host the event, said Kristi Rieger, a Roosevelt High School track coach, who helped bring the competition to town.
Yankton Trail Park is ideal for the event, with ample parking, room to accommodate thousands of visitors and space to put a large video board to broadcast the race to the crowd, she said.
"We see this event doing nothing but growing each year we get to host it," Rieger said.
The course already has been made at the park, with obstacles such as hay bales and hills to be built before the 5K race.
Nike Team Nationals is in its fourth year. The Heartland Region of the championships consists of South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and North Dakota.
Reach Matthew Gruchow at 331-2301.
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