Last updated: June 22, 2026
Quick answerTrack singlets and distance singlets are cut and constructed differently enough that ordering one spec for a full roster — sprinters, distance runners, and throwers together — almost always means somebody gets the wrong fit. Sprinter singlets run $30–45 at team quantities and use a closer athletic cut designed for short explosive efforts, while distance singlets add a different back-panel mesh weave to exhaust heat over 8 to 20-plus minutes of racing. At Eagle Ridge in Meridian, we flag the thrower sizing issue on every track order because it gets missed more than any other call on the form.
A Meridian high school track coach came in last February, a few weeks before the season opener at a rival school, and asked us to run singlets for the whole program — sprinters, distance runners, throwers, jumpers, all off one spec. We can do that, but it usually means somebody ends up with the wrong cut. Sprinters and distance runners have genuinely different needs, and field-event athletes are almost always an afterthought on the order form. Here's what actually matters when you're speccing singlets across a full roster.
Sprinter singlets: closer cut, lighter mesh
Sprinter singlets are athletically fitted — tighter to the chest and waist so there's no fabric moving around during a 100-meter dash. The mesh is lighter, often a single-layer sublimated knit. Bold school colors, clean branding, minimal extra material. That's the whole idea.
Typical per-piece cost at team quantities (10+): $30–$45.
They run fast on the track. Just not on a 5K.
Distance singlets: breathability is the job
Distance runners are out there for 8, 12, sometimes 20+ minutes depending on the event. A sprinter cut traps heat. Distance singlets use a slightly looser fit and often a different mesh weave on the back panel specifically to exhaust heat, not just wick sweat. The front chest also gives more room for event labeling if your program uses it.
Typical per-piece cost: $32–$48 depending on the blank.
The price difference is small. The comfort difference at mile three is not.
Field-event athletes: the most-overlooked group
Throwers — shot put, discus, hammer — often have larger torso builds than standard sublimated singlet sizing accounts for. If you order by the same chart you use for your distance runners, half your throwing squad ends up in something that fits wrong under the arms and pulls across the back. Size up from the standard chart for throwing events. High jumpers generally do fine in the distance cut, and triple-jump and long-jump athletes can usually go either direction.
(We flag this every time a track order comes in because it gets missed more than any other sizing call.)
Sublimation covers all of it in one order
Sublimated singlets are standard for a reason. School colors matched exactly, individual roster sizing per athlete, event labels — sprint, distance, throws — printed on the front or sleeve at no extra cost. They hold up through a full season of meets, weekly washing, and getting crammed into a bag after a long meet day. One order, all three cuts, consistent look across the team.
We can spec all three cuts — sprinter, distance, and field-event — in a single order with no minimums. Reach out or get a free quote and we'll walk through the sizing together.
Warm-up gear: probably more important than the singlet
Track meets are cold, especially early-season meets in March and April. Athletes warm up for 30–45 minutes before their event, then go back to standing around in 45-degree weather waiting for their heat. Warm-up gear isn't optional.
- Warm-up jackets — full-zip, embroidered with school crest. $35–$65 per piece.
- Warm-up pants — match the jacket. $25–$45.
- Travel hoodies — for away meets, especially anything up near the Bogus Basin or McCall area tracks where the elevation makes a real difference. $25–$45.
Travel meets and supporter merch
For travel meets, embroidered team duffel bags with athlete name and event printed on the side ($35–$55) keep gear organized and cut down on the chaos at the bus. Parent and booster supporter tees in school colors are easy fundraising. We can open a team store window starting in February to capture supporter sales before the meet season starts, so you're not collecting cash and chasing orders yourself.
Related
Ready to spec singlets for your sprinters, distance runners, and field-event athletes? We'll sort the cuts and sizing in one order. Reach out or request a free quote — Eagle Ridge Apparel, Meridian, ID.
Frequently asked
How much more do distance singlets cost than sprinter singlets?
The price gap is small — sprinter singlets typically run $30–$45 and distance singlets $32–$48 at team quantities of 10 or more. The real difference is in the mesh construction, not the price tag.
Can we order sprinter and distance singlets on the same sublimation run?
Yes, sublimation handles mixed cuts in a single order with no minimums, so sprinters, distance runners, and field-event athletes can each get the right fit while matching school colors exactly across the roster.
Where can Meridian and Boise track programs get singlets printed locally?
Eagle Ridge Apparel in Meridian, ID prints and fulfills full track singlet orders for Treasure Valley programs — reach out to spec out cuts by event group before the order goes in.
How We Make This Stuff
Everything covered in this post is produced in our Meridian, Idaho shop at 2700 E Lanark St. Eagle Ridge Apparel is a family-run print shop serving the Treasure Valley since 2019 — we embroider, screen print, DTF, sublimate, laser-cut leather patches, laser-engrave drinkware, and UV-print promotional goods on equipment we operate ourselves. No outsourced decoration, no overseas fulfillment, no third-party middlemen.
Most custom apparel orders ship in 7–10 business days from approved mockup. Rush production in 3–5 business days is available on most decoration methods; embroidered hats are the tightest constraint. We hold no minimums on any decoration type — order one piece or one thousand — though pricing scales aggressively over 50, 100, and 250-piece tiers. Free digital mockups before production starts. We don't begin a run until you sign off on what it'll look like.
Two ways to order: design it yourself online in our designer tool (any quantity, any decoration method), or request a custom quote and we'll send back pricing within one business day. Talk to a real person — email info@eagleridgeapparel.com or send us a message, and most inquiries get a response within two hours during the business day.
