HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University track and field program will host its annual VertKlasse Meeting at Vert Stadium for the second home meet of the 2026 season. The Panthers will welcome nearly 50 schools to High Point on April 2-3.
Men's and Women's Track & Field - VertKlasse Meeting
Thursday, April 2 - Friday, April 3 | High Point, N.C. | Vert Stadium
Home Meet Information
The Vertklasse name originates from the Weltklasse (World class) Zurich Meeting held in late August of each year in Switzerland. This meet is typically the final meeting of the Diamond League circuit held mostly in Europe and has been the site of 27 world records since its inception in 1928. Diamond League Meetings are high level professional events known for a fast-paced schedule, upbeat music, and world class performers. Dr. Dick Vert (60') was a standout distance runner for HPU and has been an amazing supporter of the university and the track and field program.
Thus, Vertklasse is the logical name for the meeting. We mimic a Diamond League meeting in our afternoon session by providing flowers to the winners, a sideline hype person, interviews, upbeat music and our famous trivia. All events are one heat with the very best athletes entered in the meet.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Thursday, April 2nd
THROWS- Long throw events will be on a rolling schedule; approximate start times are listed
10:00am Men's Open Hammer* (30 accepted)
12:30pm Men's Elite Hammer (top 9 verified entries-6 throws)
2:00pm Women's Elite Hammer (top 9 verified entries-6 throws)
Approx. 3:30pm Women's Javelin (30 accepted)
Approx. 5:30pm; 30min after W JT Men's Javelin* (30 accepted)
JUMPS
10:00am Men's 'B' High Jump (1.97m and below)
Approx. 12:00pm; 30min after M HJ Women's 'B' High Jump (1.64m and below)
12:30pm Women's 'B' Pole Vault (3.96m and below)
Approx. 3:00pm; 45min after W PV Men's 'B' Pole Vault (4.81m and below)
2:30pm Men's Long Jump -Runway A (45 accepted)
Women's Long Jump-Runway B (45 accepted)
TRACK EVENTS-() indicates the number of heats from previous year
4:30 PM Women's 1500 (6 heats)
5:05 PM Men's 1500 (6 heats)
5:35 PM Women's Steeple (2 heats)
6:00 PM Men's Steeple (2 heats)
6:30 PM HS Men's Steeple (1 heat)
6:45 PM HS Women's Steeple (1 heat)
7:00 PM Women's 5K (2 heats)
7:40 PM Men's 5K (2 heats)
8:15 PM Women's 10K (1 heat)
9:00 PM Men's 10K (1 heat)
Friday, April 3rd
THROWS- Long throw events will be on a rolling schedule; approximate start times are listed
9:00am Women's Open Hammer (30 accepted)
10:30am Women's Shot Put (40 accepted)
Approx. 11:15am Men's Open Discus (30 accepted)
Approx. 1:00pm: 30min after W SP Men's Shot Put (40 accepted
Approx. 1:15pm; 30min after W DT Women's Open Discus (30 accepted)
3:45pm Women's Elite Discus (top 9 verified entries-6 throws)
4:45pm Men's Elite Discus (top 9 verified entries-6 throws)
JUMPS
Approx. 12:00pm Men's "A' Pole Vault (4.82m and above)
Approx. 3:00pm Women's "A' Pole Vault (3.99m and above)
11:00pm Women's 'A' High Jump (1.65m and above)
Approx. 1:30pm followed by Men's 'A' High Jump (1.98m and above)
1:00pm Men's Triple Jump-Runway A (Max Field Size -36)
Women's Triple Jump-Runway B (Max Field Size -36)
TRACK EVENTS PARTICIPATION SECTION-() indicates the number of heats from previous year
9:00 AM Women's 800m Participation (7 Heats)
9:25 AM Men's 800m Participation (7 Heats)
9:50 AM Women's 100m Participation (12 Heats)
10:05 AM Men's 100m Participation (12 Heats)
10:25 AM Women's 400m Participation (12 Heats)
10:45 AM Men's 400m Participation (10 Heats)
11:10 AM Women's 100mH Participation (9 Heats)
11:35 AM Men's 110mHH Participation (8 Heats)
12:00 PM Women's 200m Participation (20 Heats)
12:25 PM Men's 200m Participation (16 Heats)
12:50 PM Women's 400mIH Participation (6 Heats)
1:10 PM Men's 400mIH Participation (6 Heats)
1:30 PM Alumni Mile
HIGH PERFORMANCE SECTION-
Top 8 verified entrants in lane races-1 sections
2:00 PM Opening Ceremonies/ Senior Recognition
2:30 PM *Men's 400mH (1 section)
2:40 PM Women's 400mH (1 section)
2:55 PM Women's 100m (1 section)
3:05 PM Men's 100m (1 section)
3:10 PM Boys and Girls Club 100m (2-3 sections)
3:20 PM Women's 400m (1 section)
3:25 PM Men's 400m (1 section)
3:30 PM Women's 400m Relay ( 3 Heats)
3:45 PM Men's 400m Relay (3 Heats)
4:00 PM Women's 100mH (1 section)
4:10 PM Men's 110m HH (1 section)
4:20 PM Women's 800m (1 section)
4:30 PM Men's 800m (1 section)
4:40 PM Women's 200m (1 section))
4:45 PM Men's 200m (1 section)
4:50 PM Women's 1600m Relay 3 Heats)
5:20 PM Men's 1600m Relay (3 Heats)
*- men will go first in 400mIH in afternoon High Performance section
The meet is free of charge with fan seating available in the stands of Vert Stadium. Please stay out of the competition area if you are not a coach or student-athlete competing with a team. Spectator parking is available at the College Village Shopping Center (1107 Lexington Ave) one block north of the stadium.
Following the final day of the meet on Friday evening, High Point will host a reception in the President Suite of the Witcher Athletic Facility from 6:30-8:00 p.m. to celebrate Head Coach
Mike Esposito's retirement sendoff. Sign ups are still open and can be accepted
here.
We hope fans enjoy the meeting and highly encourage a loud support of all athletes competing. Follow along on social media on Instagram and X for live updates throughout the meet.
#GoHPU x #DefendTheTeam
