When it comes to sports, Lawrence goes all out.
We love sports and we usually make it in to a party, while we’re at it. Throughout the year, the Lawrence calendar is full of sporting events. The eXplore Lawrence non-profit subsidiary, Lawrence Sports Corporation is responsible for bringing exciting events to Lawrence while fueling the city’s love of competition. The range of sporting events we organize is certainly diverse. Check out just a few of the events on our list.
Tour of Lawrence
Dates: July 15, 16 and 17, 2016
This annual three-day cycling event, presented by U.S. Bank, has quickly turned into an outstanding regional USA Cycling-sanctioned race, featuring a Friday night 200 meter street sprint, a circuit race on Haskell Indian Nation University’s campus on Saturday and a Downtown Criterium on Sunday. Community events during the Tour of Lawrence consist of live music and a Kids’ Zone on Friday and the free Kids’ Bike Race on Sunday. For more details or to register go to: Tour of Lawrence
Midwest USSSA National Championships
Dates: July 20 – 26, 2015
United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Girls Fastpitch National Championships will bring 60 teams from ten states to Lawrence beginning July 20. The week-long agenda of games will culminate in the Championship game on Saturday, July 25. The girls (ages 14 and under) and their family members will mean about 2200 people will be visiting Lawrence for this event. The national championship games draw teams from Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma, Minnesota, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Kansas.
AAU national Qualifier Track & Field
Dates: TBD
Bike MS: Kansas City Ride
Dates: September 19-20, 2015
Bike MS is a two-day bicycling fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Thousands of cyclists join in for a beautiful ride through Kansas countryside and to help fight multiple sclerosis. They’ve collected millions of dollars for the cause.
The ride offers a choice of two start lines: Garmin’s HQ in Olathe, Kansas, and Shawnee Heights Middle School in Topeka, Kansas. Both start lines have route options of approximately 38, 73 and 101 miles on day one, finishing in Lawrence at South Park for the day. South Park is converted into a cycling village with numerous corporate hospitality tents, live entertainment and food and beverages. Riders get up early Sunday morning, enjoy a breakfast of Chris Cakes, and return home.
360 Cup Cross
Dates: October 3-4, 2015
360 Cup Cross features two days of cyclocross racing at Centennial Park in Lawrence. The event is hosted by 360 Race Club and eXplore Lawrence.
Centennial Park is located at 9th and Iowa (2198 W 9th Street). It’s a huge park with varying terrain, plus a large pavilion and a jungle gym for the kids.
The course begins on a 200 meter paved start/finish area. It transitions to grass with several 180 degree turns and wide, long stretches to string out the field. The course then flows around the natural contours of the park, featuring several off-camber sections and some fairly strenuous inclines.
Lawrence Downtown Men’s Olympic Shot Put
Dates: April, in conjunction with the KU Relays
True to our Unmistakably Lawrence nature, Lawrence will convert the intersection of 8th and New Hampshire Streets by hauling in 7 tons of crushed limestone to build-out a shot put venue for this one-day competition. In turn, a world class field of throwers will compete in front of thousands of spectators. This year’s field includes Reese Hoffa, Christian Cantwell, Ryan Whiting and Kurt Roberts–five of the Top 10 world-ranked shot put athletes. Live music follows the competition while the crowd and athletes still around to make it a celebration.
