Qualifying Guidelines

1. The qualifying mark must be made in a race on a certified course recognized by USA Track & Field or a member federation of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
2. The qualifying standards must be met from January 1, 2006 through March 23, 2008 or at the 2005 USA Marathon Championships (October 2, 2005).
3. All qualifying performances are subject to verification.
4. "Gun" time is the only acceptable method of timing. Chip/net times cannot be used for qualifying.
5. Fully automatic timing (F.A.T.) is the only method of timing acceptable for qualifying marks from track events.
6. Athletes must meet the "B" standard in order to enter the Selection Race.

Automatic Qualification

USATF Rule 10.3(b) regarding Automatic Qualification will be used.

An athlete is eligible for automatic qualification into the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon if that athlete has, during the year 2007, or during the four previous calendar years (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007), accomplished one of the following:

• Earned an individual medal in an Olympic Games or in an IAAF World Championship marathon.
• Won an individual USA Marathon Championship.
• Won a U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon event.

In addition, automatic qualification into the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon will be provided to those athletes who were members of a past U.S. Women's Olympic Marathon Team.

An athlete whose entry into the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Women's Marathon is based solely on the "automatic qualification" provision is not eligible to receive funding to the Trials unless she has already met the Olympic Trials "A" standard.