The U.S. Olympic track and field team is selected at four Olympic Trials. The men’s 50-kilometer race walking team is selected at one trial while the men’s and women’s marathon teams are each selected at a separate trial. The remainder of the team is selected at the U.S. Track and Field Trials. Generally, the top three finishers in each event at the Trials will qualify for the U.S. Olympic team, subject to those athletes achieving IAAF Olympic qualification standards (see below). The only team members selected by discretion of the USATF are members of the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay teams. Six athletes are included on each relay team, even though only four compete in a relay event. Each qualifying nation may send one team in each relay event to the Olympic Games (see below for IAAF qualification rules). IAAF Olympic Qualifying Standards
Athletes who qualify for the U.S. Olympic team must also achieve the IAAF’s Olympic qualification standards. As with the U.S. Trials, the IAAF sets “A” and “B” qualification standards. The 2008 men’s “A” standards are:
- 100 meters: 10.21 seconds
- 200 meters: 20.59
- 400 meters: 45.55
- 800 meters: 1:46.0
- 1500 meters: 3:36.60
- 5000 meters: 13:21.50
- 10,000 meters: 27:50.0
- marathon: 2:15:00
- 3000-meter steeplechase: 8:24.60
- 110-meter hurdles: 13.55
- 400-meter hurdles: 49.20
- 20-kilometer race walk: 1:23:00
- 50-kilometer race walk: 4:00:00
- decathlon: 8000 points
- high jump: 2.30 meters
- pole vault: 5.70
- long jump: 8.20
- triple jump: 17.10
- shot put: 20.30
- discus: 64.50
- hammer: 78.50
- javelin: 81.80
The 2008 women’s “A” standards are:
- 100 meters: 11.32
- 200 meters: 23.0
- 400 meters: 51.55
- 800 meters: 2:00.0
- 1500 meters: 4:07.0
- 5000 meters: 15:09.0
- 10,000 meters: 31:45.0
- marathon: 2:37:00
- 3000-meter steeplechase: 9:46.0
- 100-meter hurdles: 12.96
- 400-meter hurdles: 55.60
- 20-kilometer race walk: 1:33:30
- heptathlon: 6000 points
- high jump: 1.95 meters
- pole vault: 4.45
- long jump: 6.72
- triple jump: 14.20
- shot put: 18.35
- discus: 61.0
- hammer: 69.50
- javelin: 60.50
For relays, the IAAF qualification rules state in part:
"There shall be a maximum of 16 qualified teams in each relay event, based on the aggregate of the two fastest times achieved by national teams at IAAF recognised international events in the qualification period of 1 January 2007 to 16 July 2008. A total of 6 athletes may be entered for a relay team. Should an NOC (nation) have entered individual athletes and a relay team in the same distance, the entered individual athletes must be included in the total of 6 athletes entered for the relay events.”
See the IAAF Entry Standards, for full Olympic qualification and eligibility details. Back to Olympic Track and Field main page
