"A" and "B" Standards
"A" - athletes who attain the "A" standard will automatically be included in the event. *
"B" - athletes who attain the "B" standard will be included in the event only if additional competitors are needed to fill the stated field size (i.e., not enough athletes have attained the "A" standard). *
 
* - subject to the Qualifying Guidelines, entry process, and declaration process. If the "B" standard is used, only the number of athletes needed to fill the stated field size will be included in the event. These athletes must declare, and they will be invited for inclusion only after the close of declarations.

Field sizes are the approximate number of desired participants in each event (not the minimum). See the field sizes page for a list of the progression of field sizes for each event.

Qualifying Guidelines

1. All qualifying performances for running events must be made on a standard outdoor track or during the 2004 indoor season on an indoor track in the same event; qualifying performances for walking events must be made on a USATF-certified road course, standard outdoor track, or an international road course certified by the appropriate authority.
2. Qualifying marks must be made and verifiable in one of the following:
   1. USATF- or IAAF-sanctioned events,
   2. collegiate meets where events prescribe to or exceed USATF competition rules, or
   3. high school meets, except duals and triangulars.
3. All qualifying performances are subject to verification.
4. Fully automatic timing (F.A.T.) is the only method of timing acceptable for qualifying marks for events equal to or shorter than 400 meters.
5. A manual time may only be used for qualifying for events of 800 meters and longer. No timing allowance factor for qualifying will be made for hand times. Hand times will be adjusted using Rule 76 for the purposes of seeding.
6.  Wind-assisted performances will not be accepted. There is no adjustment for altitude.
7. An appeal to use a mile qualifying mark for the 1500m will be accepted only if a) no 1500m qualifying mark exists, b) the mile mark was made during the 2004 season, and c) the mile mark is equivalent to the 1500m "A" standard, 3:54.40 for men and 4:28.20 for women.
8. All qualifying marks must be attained between January 1, 2003 and July 1, 2004.

Special Qualifying Regulations

Automatic Qualification [USATF Rules 10.3(b)i and 10.3(b)ii]

A Track & Field athlete is eligible for automatic qualification into the Olympic Trials in the same event if that athlete has:

• Earned an individual medal in an Olympic Games or in an IAAF World Indoor or Outdoor Championships during the year 2004, or during the four previous calendar years (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
• Won an individual 2003 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championship event
• For automatic qualification purposes only the indoor 60m, 60m hurdles, mile, and 3000m distances are interchangeable with the outdoor 100m, 100m/110m hurdles, 1500m and 5000m, respectively

A Race Walk athlete is eligible for automatic qualification into the Olympic Trials if that athlete has during 2004, or during the four previous calendar years (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003) accomplished one of the following:

• Earned an individual medal in an Olympic Games or in an IAAF World Indoor or Outdoor Championships
• Won an individual event at a USA Indoor or Outdoor Track & Field Championships
• Won a USA 50 km Race Walk Championship
• Won a USA Olympic Trials event

Athletes may only enter the event in which they have won a medal except for the 50 km Race Walk Champion.

All athletes who are allowed entry into the Olympic Trials by the special qualifying regulations must submit an entry and follow the same declaration procedures as all other Olympic Trials qualifiers.

Athletes entering as "automatic qualifiers" should list any qualifying performance details on their official entry form. Athletes whose entry into the Olympic Trials is based solely on the "automatic qualification" provision are not eligible to receive funding based on the automatic qualification alone.

Other Information

The Women's 3000m Steeplechase will be conducted as a USA National Championship event during the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field.

• Female athletes who wish to compete in the 3000m Steeplechase must follow the same entry/declaration procedures as those athletes competing in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field.
• The qualifying standard is 10:00.00 and must have been attained between January 1, 2003 and July 1, 2004.
• Funding for these athletes will be the same as that for Olympic Trials events.