Qualifying Guidelines

1. All performances (except for the Marathon--see below) must be achieved between 1/1/03 and 8/9/04 (midnight local time).
2. All performances (except for relays) must be achieved in competitions organized or authorized by the IAAF, its Area Associations, or its National Member Federations. Thus, results achieved at collegiate or school competitions must be certified by the National Federation of the country in which the competition was organized.
3. All performances must be achieved during an official competition organized in conformity with IAAF Rules.
4. Performances achieved in mixed events between male and female participants, held completely in the Stadium, will not be accepted (see IAAF Rule 147).
5. Wind-assisted performances will not be accepted.
6. Hand-timed performances in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 110m/100m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles, and 4x100m Relay will not be accepted.
7. Indoor performances for all field events and for races of 200m and longer will be accepted.
8. Lower age limit: for the Marathon and the Men's 50 km Race Walk, only open athletes (any athlete aged 20 years and older on 12/31/04) will be accepted.
9. Marathon:
   1. All performances for the Marathon must be achieved between 9/1/02 and 8/9/04.
   2. The performances must have been achieved on properly measured courses.
   3. The first 20 runners at the 2003 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in both the mens and womens marathon will be considered to have met the "A" standard.
10. Relays:
    1. The best 16 National Teams will qualify in each relay event on the basis of the average of their best two performances achieved in competitions sanctioned by IAAF or by the Area Associations and recorded between 1/1/03 and 7/21/04.