MCTC HISTORY

For almost a quarter of a century the Music City Track Carnival has provided an opportunity for athletes of all ages and abilities to  lay it on the line and show what they can do amid an exciting, fun atmosphere with great music, skilled and knowledgeable announcers, and  big crowds. The meet has grown steadily thanks to the passion, drive and ambition of meet founder and director, Dave Milner.

This meet has grown from a fledgling local event to one of the premiere competitive opportunities in the country. For the 5th consecutive year, MCTC is part of the prestigious World Athletics Continental Tour, holding Challenger Level status in 2025. This esteemed designation makes MCTC one of only a handful of events nation-wide offering World Athletics points towards qualification for this September’s World Championships in Tokyo, just as MCTC was a pivotal stepping stone on the Road to Paris 2024.

THE EARLY YEARS

It all started back in 2003. When Dave's good friend, Kibby Clayton, passed away afterbeing diagnosed with a brain tumor, he wanted to do something to honor her. Kibby had been instrumental in bringing the only ever National Championship running event to Nashville back in 1991, the TAC Road 5K Championships (TAC, The Athletics Congress, was the predecessor to USA Track & Field). Dave didn't have the resources to put on a road race, so he put on a small track meet for his friends with seeded 5000m races. The meet was named the Nashvillerunner.com Twilight Track meet. The meet had about 100 runners, and Dave even raced in between bouts on the mic.

The following year a Mile was added, and in 2005, for the first time an 800m and 3000m Steeplechase were included. The meet was renamed the Music City Distance Carnival, reflecting the increasing party atmosphere . That year also saw the meet's first sub-4:00 mile and first Tennessee High School State Record, courtesy of Anthony Famiglietti and Andrew Bumbalough respectively.

STEADY GROWTH

The meet grew steadily over the next decade and a half, with the middle distances being the meet's bread and butter. World Champions Jenny Simpson and Emma Coburn came to Music City to race, while World and Olympic Champion Athing Mu competed in the meet as a high schooler in 2019. Several Masters World Records were set in the Mile, with Anthony Whiteman, in 2012, becoming just the second runner over the age of 40 to run a sub-4 minute mile. Not only did Whiteman, at 40, clock 3:57.79 to set an outdoor Masters World Record, he won the men's Pro race!

In 2020, despite the Covid-19 Pandemic, Dave found a way to safely put on one of the few large scale pro track meets in North America that year. "That was perhaps the hardest thing I've ever done in my life," Dave said, "but so worth it." Among the highlights, Oliver Hoare broke a 38-year old Tennessee soil record for 1500m, clocking 3:34.63, and Jenna Hutchens ran what is still one of the fastest HS 3200s ever at 9:49.83.

EXPANSION BEYOND DISTANCE

In 2021, Dave partnered with American Track League, and the meet expanded to include non-distance events for the first time, necessitating a name change. The Music City Track Carnival had world class sprints, including reigning 400m World Champion, Steven Gardiner, a 400m hurdles that featured Sydney McLaughlin, who would go on to win Olympic gold in Tokyo a few months later. The pole vault featured 2017 & 2019 World Champion Sam Kendricks, and Katie Nageotte (now Moon) who later, like McLaughlin, won Gold in Tokyo. Even the shot, had Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Tom Walsh. The meet was televised for the first time, airing live on ESPN2.

In 2022, Sydney McLaughlin narrowly missed the World Record in the women's 400m hurdles, running 51.64 (just 0.16 off the record). It is still the 10th fastest clocking of all-time. High schooler Will Sumner clocked 1:46.53 to just miss the U.S High School Record for 800m (still the #3 All-Time mark).

In 2023, KC Lightfoot broke the North American Pole Vault Record, clearing an astounding 6.07m (19 ft 11 in) to eclipse the former national best set by Sam Kendricks, and High School sensation Shawnti Jackson showed a loadedfield of pros a clean pair of heels in the women's 100 to clock 10.89 and set a still-standing U.S High School Record.

In 2024, we had athletes from a record 40 different nations compete, many using it as an important qualification stepping stone towards the Paris Olympics. In Paris, there were a total of 76 MCTC alums competing, representing 27 different nation across 13 events. Thirteen medals were won by MCTC alumns, with four being gold.

2025: CLEVELAND ROCKS!

This year, the meet is taking place outside of Middle Tennessee for the first time, with Lee University in Cleveland playing host. We have amazing fields shaping up, with over 50 Olympians and High School State Champions already committed and ready to light up the track atthe Ray Conn Sports Complex.

We hope to see you May 30-31. If you can't make it, be sure to tune in for the livestream on Runnerspace.