USATF - Events - 2008 Olympic Games

Selection Procedures - Marathon

Pending final approval by the USOC; subject to change

Selection System
1. The minimum eligibility requirements for an athlete to be considered for nomination to the Team:
  1. Citizenship:
    Athletes must be 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:
    All athletes nominated to the Olympic Team will have to meet the IAAF and IOC qualification standards.
  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.
  Up to three total spots per gender will be selected based on an athlete's rank order of finish at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon, to be held between October 1, 2007 and April 21, 2008; and/or the number of athletes (if less than three are selected based on rank order of finish from the trials) that have achieved the Olympic "A" qualification standard based on rank order of finish at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon. At this time it is possible that the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon races could either be hosted by a single host city (with separate races for each gender) or by separate host cities.
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.
    
    Marathon
    
    Women:
    U.S. Olympic Trials - Women's Marathon
    (between October 1, 2007 - April 21, 2008) exact Date and site TBD
    Men:
    U.S. Olympic Trials - Men's Marathon
    (between October 1, 2007 - April 21, 2008) exact Date and site TBD
  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).
    
    There will be a single opportunity in 2005 at the USA Marathon Championships (hosted by the Twin Cities Marathon, October 2, 2005), to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon. See qualifying standards for more information.
    The regular qualifying period for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon will be January 1, 2006 until thirty days (30) before the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon. See the qualifying standards for more information.
    1. Qualifying opportunities:
      1. One-Day opportunity at 2005 USA Marathon Championships, hosted by the Twin Cities Marathon - October 2, 2005, or;
      2. January 1, 2006 - 30 days prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon - (TBA)
    2. Qualifying standards: Athletes must achieve qualifying marks in the time period listed above on a USATF or IAAF approved course.
      1. Men's Marathon
        
        USATF funded standard - 2:20:00
        
        USATF non-funded standard - 2:22:00
        
        USATF non-funded standard - sub 13:40 for 5,000 meters track performances beginning January 1, 2006 - 30 days prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon.
        
        USATF non-funded standard - sub 28:45 for 10,000 meters track performances beginning January 1, 2006 - 30 days prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon.
      2. Women's Marathon
        
        USATF funded standard - 2:39:00
        
        USATF non-funded standard - 2:47:00
        
        USATF non-funded standard - sub 33:00 for 10,000 meters track performances beginning January 1, 2006 - 30 days prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon.
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 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team:
  1. Up to three athletes per gender will be nominated based on rank order of finish at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon, provided each has achieved the Olympic "A" qualification standard. Athletes must meet the Olympic "A" Standard no later than April 21, 2008 on an IAAF-approved course.
  2. In the event that one or more of the athletes in #1 above has not achieved the Olympic "A" qualification standard within the prescribed period, athlete(s) who have achieved the Olympic "A" standard will be nominated based on rank order of finish in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon, subject to the following:
    1. In the event that a non "A" standard athlete wins the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon and does not achieve the "A" standard by April 21, 2008 - the nominations to the Olympic team will be awarded to up to three athletes per gender who have achieved the "A" standard, based on rank order of finish at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon.
    2. If no athlete(s) from the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon achieve the "A" standard before April 21, 2008 - the highest place finisher at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon, with the "B" standard will be the sole nominee to the 2008 Olympic Marathon Team.
    3. If no athletes meet the "A" or "B" standards, no athletes will be nominated to the U.S. Olympic 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 Olympic 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
Discretionary Selection
n/a
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).
  1. 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 IOC, 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.
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 who compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon.
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 trials will be replaced by the next eligible athlete who has achieved the Olympic Games Qualifying standard, in rank order finish from the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon. 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
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.
Required Documents

The following documents are required to be signed by an athlete as a condition of nomination to the Olympic Team and are included as attachments:
The Statement of Conditions will be signed by nominated athletes.
All athletes who are nominated to the Olympic Team will be required to sign a Statement of Conditions that is still under consideration for approval, and that the Statement of Conditions will be posted and all athletes will be notified as soon as it is approved.
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
4. Entry Booklet: selection procedures will be clearly defined in the selection competition entry booklet which will be published in January 2007
Date of Nomination
Nomination of Athletes form, including replacements, will be submitted to the USOC on or before June 28, 2008.
Mandatory Training and/or Competition
At this time, there will be no mandatory training for entrants in the individual events at the 2008 Olympic Games.

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

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

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

These procedures are based on IOC and/or IAAF rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in IOC 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.
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

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