How to Compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track and Field

The Olympic track and field athletes who challenge how fast humans can run—even some who eventually become international stars—begin competing at a variety of different ages. Athletes typically enter the sport at the local level, by joining an athletics club or participating in a school program.

Some young athletes will specialize in another sport before switching to track and field at a later age. For example, a basketball player with a talent for leaping might become a long jumper, while a heavyweight wrestler or football lineman might take up the discus or shot put. No matter the sport, a standout high school performance—if only for one year—is almost always a prerequisite for winning a track and field scholarship at an American college. The college route is a frequent path to success for standout track and field athletes, including many non-Americans.

In the United States, success in NCAA competitions is a common step toward an Olympic team berth. Still, there is no single path that leads to Olympic competition. Some athletes who are past college age may still be able to hone their skills sufficiently to compete in USA Track & Field (USATF) Events—such as the USATF Running Circuit (a road series for distance runners) or the USA Race Walking Grand Prix—and eventually qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

National Athletics Governing Bodies

Each country has its own national body responsible for setting track and field rules and organizing competitions. In the United States, the national governing body is USA Track & Field. To enter the Olympic Trials, an athlete must be a registered USATF member.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the international track and field governing body and writes the rules used in the Olympic Games.

Minimum Requirements to Attend the U.S. Olympic Trials

In addition to being a USATF member, each U.S. Olympic Team Trials competitor must be a U.S. citizen and must meet the qualifying standards for his or her event.

For 2016, the U.S. Olympic Trials men’s qualifying standards were:

• 100 meters: 10.16 seconds
• 200 meters: 20.50
• 400 meters: 45.40
• 800 meters: 1:46.00
• 1500 meters: 3:38.00
• 5000 meters: 13:28.00
• 10,000 meters: 28:15.00
• 110-meter hurdles: 13.52
• 400-meter hurdles: 49.50
• 3000-meter steeplechase: 8:32.00
• Marathon: 2:15:00
• 20-kilometer race walk: 1:36.00
• 50-kilometer race walk: 5:15.00
• High jump: 2.28 meters (7 feet 5¾ inches)
• Pole vault: 5.65/18-6¼
• Long jump: 8.05/26-4¾
• Triple jump: 16.66/54-7¾
• Shot put: 20.50/67-3
• Discus: 62.00/203-5
• Hammer: 72.00/236-2
• Javelin: 77.00/252-7
• Decathlon: 7900 points

For 2016, the U.S. Olympic Trials women’s qualifying standards were:

• 100 meters: 11.32 seconds.
• 200 meters: 23.20
• 400 meters: 52.20
• 800 meters: 2:03.00
• 1500 meters: 4:09.50
• 5000 meters: 15:25.00
• 10,000 meters: 32:25.00
• 100-meter hurdles: 13.00
• 400-meter hurdles: 56.95
• 3000-meter steeplechase: 9:53.00
• Marathon: 2:37:00
• 20-kilometer race walk: 1:48.00
• High jump: 1.85 meters (6 feet, ¾ inch)
• Pole vault: 4.50/14-9
• Long jump: 6.50/31-3¾
• Triple jump: 13.40/43-11½
• Shot put: 17.60/57-8¾
• Discus: 57.00/187-0
• Hammer: 67.00/219-9
• Javelin: 54.00/177-2
• Heptathlon: 6150 points

A track and field athlete is eligible for an automatic invitation to the U.S. Olympic Trials if he or she has earned an individual medal in an Olympic Games, or in an IAAF World Indoor or Outdoor Championship during the year of the Trials or during the four previous calendar years; is the defending U.S. champion; or has finished in the top three in his or her event at the preceding year's U.S. Outdoor Championships.

Additionally, a race walk or marathon athlete is eligible for automatic qualification if he or she has previously earned a U.S. Olympic team berth, or has won a USA marathon or 50-kilometer Race Walk Championship during the previous four calendar years.

• 100 meters: 10.18 seconds
• 200 meters: 20.55
• 400 meters: 45.30
• 800 meters: 1:45.6
• 1500 meters: 3:35.50
• 5000 meters: 13:20.00
• 10,000 meters: 27:45.0
• marathon: 2:15:00
• 3000-meter steeplechase: 8:23.10
• 110-meter hurdles: 13.52
• 400-meter hurdles: 49.50
• 20-kilometer race walk: 1:22:30
• 50-kilometer race walk: 3:59:00
• decathlon: 8200 points
• high jump: 2.31 meters
• pole vault: 5.72
• long jump: 8.20
• triple jump: 17.20
• shot put: 20.50
• discus: 65.00
• hammer: 78.0
• javelin: 82.0

• 100 meters: 11.29
• 200 meters: 23.10
• 400 meters: 51.55
• 800 meters: 1:59.9
• 1500 meters: 4:06.0
• 5000 meters: 15:20.0
• 10,000 meters: 31:45.0
• marathon: 2:37:00
• 3000-meter steeplechase: 9:43.0
• 100-meter hurdles: 12.96
• 400-meter hurdles: 55.50
• 20-kilometer race walk: 1:33:30
• heptathlon: 6150 points
• high jump: 1.95 meters
• pole vault: 4.50
• long jump: 6.75
• triple jump: 14.30
• shot put: 18.30
• discus: 62.0
• hammer: 71.50
• javelin: 61.0

See the IAAF Entry Standards for full Olympic qualification and eligibility details.

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