Hamline University will host this year's U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships for three days starting June 19, officials announced Tuesday.
The selection of the St. Paul university by the U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, is a first for Minnesota.
Hamline and the Meet Minneapolis convention and visitors organization are jointly hosting the championships. Roughly 200 athletes are expected to compete.
"We are excited and honored to host this great event," Hamline athletic director Jason Verdugo said in a statement accompanying the announcement. "It's a testament to the quality of the track and field facilities at Klas Center and to our outstanding track and field staff."
The meet serves as a qualifying event for athletes competing at the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto (Aug. 7-15) and the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar (Oct. 21-31).
For more information on the U.S. Paralympics, go to www.USParalympics.org.
Paul Walsh
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