From left, Jarret Eaton, Kevin Craddock, Spencer Adams and Jeremy Tatham compete in the 60-meter hurdles at the USATF Indoor Championships on Saturday, March 12, 2016, in Portland.
Bradley W. Parks / OPB
Since May of last year, a 19-foot tall clock in Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square counted down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the start of the IAAF World Indoor Track And Field Championships.
The clock strikes zero Thursday as the competition kicks off at the Oregon Convention Center with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m.
What’s all the hubbub with this meet? Here are five things to know about world indoors.
This is only the second time the event has been held in the U.S. The IAAF held the inaugural indoor worlds in Indianapolis in 1987.
Americans dominate. The U.S. has a whopping 214 medals in the world indoors — 95 gold, 60 silver and 59 bronze. Russia is the only other country with more than 100 medals.
The track was built in just 10 days. How do you fit a full track into the Oregon Convention Center? Very carefully.
Next to the Olympics, the IAAF World Indoor Championships are the biggest indoor track and field competition in the world. More than 600 athletes representing 154 countries will compete.
The pros aren't the only ones racing. For the first time in IAAF history, Oregon high school students will compete in relays during the world championships.
Follow OPB on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for photos and updates from the championships throughout the weekend.