Looks like a good news for the University of Arkansas as the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System, in collaboration with USA Track and Field recently announced Fayetteville, Ark as this year's host of the 23rd Annual Thorpe Cup slated to commence on July 29 at John McDonnell Field.

The event marks the 23rd series of annual international team decathlons between U.S. and Germany. United States' teams have an edge over the German team with 13-9 W-L, CharlotteObserver reported.

However, it cannot be ignored that the German team has emerged victorious in six of the most recent matches since 2010.

The women's heptathlon was introduced to the contest back in 2006 with United States in current series lead with a 7-3 advantage as well as the concluding six team competitions in a row. This will be the first time an international competition will be held at U of A.

John McDonnell Field is one of United States' three IAAF Class 1 certified tracks.

Named in honor of Oklahoma native and 1912 Olympic decathlon champion, Jim Thorpe, the 23rd annual Thorpe Cup competition will be on July 29 and July 30.

Expressing his excitement about adding one more leading track and field event to Northwest Arkansas, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long noted that the university has an unequaled track and field inheritance and has hosted an array of premiere events, NWA Homepage reported.

Mr. Long also noted that the chance to host the Thorpe Cup not only marks their "first international meet." bit will also treat them with some exceptional track and field, besides giving to their championship reputation a boost.

The Thorpe Cup - History

The Thorpe Cup is the world's most far-reaching nation vs. nation team decathlon. This meet has been diversely dubbed as the JEEP Challenge or the VISA CUP Meet, but was officially named The Thorpe Cup in 2007.

Team Zehnkampf coach Claus Marek and VISA-USA team coach Harry Marra were behind the original concept of an annual team match, conceived in 1993.

In the existing series, the first meeting was organized in Aachen, Germany (1993) where Germany's Stefan Schmid and the VISA USA team were triumphant. The United States won six of the introductory seven team battles.

Without-a-doubt, the Thorpe Cup has been a platform for several acclaimed Olympians and the imminent 23rd Annual Thorpe Cup is expected to do the same.

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