Organized by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), the competition took place on February 22 and served as the national championships in indoor track and field for the United States.

[1] The championships served as a selection event for a dual meet against the Soviet Union athletics team soon after.

Long jumper Bouncy Moore protested the conditions of the jumping pit, which was filled with rocks and stable dirt.

Moore qualified for the finals but did not jump after that out of protest.

If I had known the conditions would be this bad, I would have brought some sand from San Diego".