Image courtesy of Placer County

AUBURN, CA (MPG) - Placer County will bring together young athletes from across the region for the Placer County Track and Field Championship, a countywide event celebrating student achievement, community pride and the county’s 175th anniversary. The meet will take place Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Twelve Bridges High School located at 2305 Fieldstone Drive in Lincoln.

High school athletes from throughout the county will compete in a full slate of track and field events, including running, relays, jumping events, hurdles and throwing events. Medals will be awarded to the top three finalists in each competition within each division.

As part of the day’s festivities, the event will also feature a special “Gun and Hoses” style relay race with participants from an array of county law enforcement agencies and fire departments. The festivities will also act as a fundraiser for Special Olympics who will have a competitor in the 100-meter dash with fire and law enforcement participants.

“Placer County’s 175th anniversary is about honoring the people and communities that have built our shared story,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Shanti Landon. “This championship is a wonderful reminder of the spirit, drive and teamwork that continue to define our county. Celebrating our young athletes is the perfect way to recognize the next generation of Placer leaders.”

To date, 11 high schools in Placer County have signed up to participate in the championship meet, which is expected to attract more than a thousand spectators.

To minimize traffic, and ensure spectators enjoy stress-free travel, Placer County Transit will increase service on Route 20 offering an overflow bus that will run every 20 minutes between Twelve Bridges High School and Thunder Valley Casino.

Thunder Valley Casio has graciously offered to provide parking space in their overflow lot located across the street from the casino at 1200 Athens Ave, Lincoln. This accommodation is particularly helpful as ongoing projects at the high school have temporarily reduced on-site parking capacity.

A year of countywide celebration

The Track and Field Championship is one of several events commemorating Placer County’s 175th anniversary, honoring a history rooted in the Gold Rush and shaped by agriculture, the First Transcontinental Railroad and decades of community resilience.

Festivities began in March with a special presentation and commemorative resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors, recognizing historic milestones dating back to the founding of the county on April 25, 1851. To commemorate the actual anniversary date, Placer County Museums will host live tours of the historic Auburn Courthouse and old downtown center on Saturday, April 25.

Additional anniversary events throughout the year include the State of the County address on May 6, the Fanny Bridge ribbon‑cutting and block party in Tahoe City on May 17, and special activities at the 2026 Placer County Fair.

Placer County Executive Officer Daniel Chatigny said this anniversary year is a special chance to bring residents together. ‘It’s a time to tip our hats to the people and stories that built Placer County, while also looking ahead to where we’re headed. What really makes this place special is the folks who call it home, the pride they have and the way they show up for one another. That’s been at the heart of our story for 175 years, and it’s something worth celebrating.”

A community time capsule is slated to be buried at the historic Auburn Courthouse in fall and residents are invited to contribute their images and messages to capture life in Placer today. To help facilitate this, the county will have a photo booth at its anniversary events to encourage attendees to take pictures and include them in the time capsule for future residents to enjoy.  

Meanwhile, current residents are invited to attend the championship, cheer on local athletes and join in the countywide festivities taking place from Roseville to Lake Tahoe throughout 2026.

Learn more at: https://www.placer.ca.gov/175.