Athlete Selection Procedures - Marathon

As of August 28, 2006

These procedures are subject to the final approval of the USOC.

1. The minimum eligibility requirements for an athlete to be considered for nomination to the Team:
   1. Citizenship:
      
      Athletes must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to represent the U.S. in International competition and hold a valid U.S. passport at the time of nomination.
   2. Minimum IF standards for participation:
      
      Athletes competing in the Marathon must be at least 18 years old on December 31, 2007.
   3. Other requirements:
      
      Athletes must be a USA Track & Field member at the time of the selection competition.
2. Summary for athlete selection as a nominee to the Team.
   • Two total spots per gender will be selected based on an athlete's rank order of finish at the USA Marathon Championships, to be held October 1, 2006 at the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis, MN. The top two finishers per gender will be nominated to the team.
3. Tryout Sites and Events:
   1. Provide the event names, dates and location of all trials, events and/or camps to be used as part of the selection process:
      
      USA Marathon Championships
      Twin Cites Marathon - Minneapolis, MN, October 1, 2006
   2. Provide event names, dates, locations and description of how athletes qualify for any "preliminary or qualifying" events or procedures that are prerequisites to attend any of the events listed above in C. 1 (if any):
      
      No preliminary qualifying events or marks are required to participate at the USA Marathon Championships
4. Provide a comprehensive, step-by-step description of the method that explains how athletes will go through the selection process to become team nominees:

   The following criteria will be used to nominate athletes to the 2007 U.S. Pan Am Games Marathon Team:

   Two total spots per gender will be selected based on an athlete's rank order of finish at the USA Marathon Championships, to be held October 1, 2006 at the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis, MN. The top two finishers per gender will be nominated to the team.

5. Provide the names of all committees/groups who oversee the selection process, including the name(s) and role(s) of their members.
   
   Committee oversight of selection procedures and criteria

   The selection and nomination process to the Pan American Games Marathon Team will be overseen by a combined committee of the respective USATF Men's and Women's LDR Committees.

   Fred Finke - USATF Long Distance Running Division - Chair
   Glenn Latimer - USATF Men's Long Distance Running Committee - Chair
   Keith Dowling - USATF Men's Long Distance Running Committee - Vice-Chair/athlete
   Elizabeth Phillips - USATF Women's Long Distance Running Committee - Chair
   Kim Keenan-Kirkpatrick - USATF Women's Long Distance Running Committee - Vice-Chair/ athlete

2. Discretionary Selection (if applicable)

n/a

3. Removal of Athletes

1. Prior to acceptance of nomination by the USOC, USA Track & Field has jurisdiction over potential nominees.
   1. An athlete who is to be nominated to the Team by USA Track & Field may be removed from the Nominations for any of the following reasons, as determined by USA Track & Field.
      • Voluntary withdrawal. Athlete must submit a written letter to USA Track & Field CEO/Executive Director.
      • Injury or illness as certified by a USA Track & Field physician (or medical staff). If an athlete refuses verification of their illness or injury by a USA Track & Field approved physician or medical staff, their injury will be assumed to be disabling and they may be removed.
      • Violation of USA Track & Field's Statement of Conditions. - Attachment A.

        An athlete who may be removed from the Team pursuant to this provision has the right to a hearing per USA Track & Field's Bylaws Article 19 and Regulation 11 or USOC Bylaws, Article 9.

2. After acceptance of nomination by the USOC, the USOC has jurisdiction over the Team under the USOC Code of Conduct and Grievance Procedures. This occurs no earlier than 45 days and no later than 30 days prior to the Opening Ceremonies of the Games (unless expressly waived by the USOC).

   A USOC-approved team member is subject to the USOC Code of Conduct and Grievance Procedures.

3. An athlete may be removed from Nomination or from the Team at any time for violation of PASO, WADA, IAAF, USADA and/or USOC anti-doping protocol, policies and procedures. In such instances, the adjudication process will be managed through the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

4. Replacement of Athletes

1. Describe the process by which the replacement pool of athletes will be identified:

   The Replacement pool of athletes will consist of athletes rank order of finish at the USA Marathon Championships

2. Describe how the replacement athlete(s) will be selected to replace a previously nominated athlete, should a vacancy occur:

   An athlete who is removed or withdraws from the team following the USA Marathon Championships will be replaced by the next ranked at the USA Marathon Championships.

   Athletes are required to sign a statement of conditions for participation. (See Attachment A)

3. Identify the group or committee that will be responsible for making athlete replacement determinations:

   n/a

5. Supporting Documents

USA Track & Field will retain all supporting documents, including scouting or evaluation forms, etc., and data from the selection process for six months past the date of the Closing Ceremonies of the Games.

6. Required Documents

The following documents are required to be signed by an athlete as a condition of nomination to the Pan American Marathon Team and are included as attachments:

The Statement of Conditions will be signed by nominated athletes. See Attachment A.

7. Publicity/Distribution of Procedures:

The USOC approved Selection Procedures (complete and unaltered) will be posted/published by USA Track & Field in the following locations and will include the USOC approval date:

1. USA Track & Field website: www.usatf.org/elite
   The website information will be posted as soon as possible, but not more than 5 business days following notice of approval by the USOC.
2. USA Track & Field Official Publication: Elite Beat magazine, distributed to more than 1,000 athletes
3. E-mail: direct e-mail to athletes; more than 750 athlete e-mail addresses on file

8. Date of Nomination

Nomination of Athletes form, including replacements, will be submitted to the USOC on or before June 1, 2007.

9. Mandatory Training and/or Competition

At this time, there will be no mandatory training for entrants in the individual events at the 2007 Pan American Games.

Should there be mandatory training, affected athletes will be notified at least 30 days prior to commencement of such training

10. Anti-Doping Requirements

Athletes must adhere to all PASO, WADA, IAAF, USADA and USOC anti-doping protocols, policies and procedures. This includes participation in out of competition testing as required by the PASO, WADA, IAAF, USADA and USOC Rules.

11. Development of Selection Procedures

The following committee/group was responsible for creating these selection procedures:

Fred Finke - USATF Long Distance Running Division - Chair
Glenn Latimer - USATF Men's Long Distance Running Committee - Chair
Keith Dowling - USATF Men's Long Distance Running Committee - Vice-Chair/ athlete
Elizabeth Phillips - USATF Women's Long Distance Running Committee - Chair
Kim Keenan-Kirkpatrick - USATF Women's Long Distance Running Committee - Vice-Chair/ athlete

12. NGB Bylaws and Grievance Procedures

The USA Track & Field Bylaws and Grievance Procedures can be found at www.usatf.org/about/governance/

13. International Disclaimer

These procedures are based on PASO and/or IAAF rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in PASO and/or IAAF rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected athletes immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to USA Track & Field. However, the selections are always subject to unforeseen, intervening circumstances, and realistically may not have accounted for every possible contingency.

14. Athlete Ombudsman

Athletes who have questions regarding their opportunity to compete that are not answered by USA Track & Field may contact the USOC Athlete Ombudsman: John W. Ruger by:

• Toll free telephone at (888) ATHLETE
• E-mail at john.ruger@usoc.org
• www.888athlete.org