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Back to 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships

Media Guide

Thank you for your coverage of the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships. This event is organized by the following nonprofit organizations:

  • Central Park Track Club 
  • USATF-NY
  • New York Road Runners
  • Randall’s Island Park Alliance
  • USA Track & Field

Please carefully review the information included in this document prior to arriving at the event. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to the media team.

MEDIA TEAM & CONTACT INFORMATION 

All media inquiries should be directed via e-mail to: communications@usatf.org

  • Jay Holder - Chief Content & Communications Officer, USA Track & Field (Press Chief)
  • Crystal Howard - Chief Communications & Community Officer, New York Road Runners (LOC)
  • Denise Spann - Manager, Communications & Social Media, USA Track & Field
  • Matt Singer - Photo Manager 
  • Elijah Lewis - Photo Manager 
  • Carole Harsch - Mixed Zone Manager 
  • James Hill - Broadcast/In-Stadium Operations 
 

BOOKMARK THIS PAGE - MEDIA QUICK LINKS

The quick references page includes links to startlists, schedules, flash quotes, historical data and other media information you may need to access quickly during competition. 

Important Links

 
  • Schedule of Events
  • Status of Entries - US Outdoor Championships  
  • Status of Entries - US Para Championships  
  • Live Results - US Outdoor Championships
  • Live Results - US Para Championships 
  • Flash Quotes
  • Ticket Sales

*This event is paperless. Updates to startlists and heat sheets will be made immediately on the live results page.

SCHEDULE OF MEDIA EVENTS (All times listed are ET)

Tuesday, July 21 

  • 8:30 a.m. - Media credential pickup opens
    • FDNY Fire Academy/ Randall’s Island/9 Reilly Blvd, New York

Wednesday, July 22 

  • 8:30 a.m. - Media credential pickup opens
    • FDNY Fire Academy/ Randall’s Island/9 Reilly Blvd, New York
  • 11:00 a.m. - Toyota USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships Press Conference.
    • New York Athletic Club/180 Central Park South, New York 

​​Thursday, July 23 

  • 8:30 a.m. - Media credential pickup opens
    • FDNY Fire Academy/ Randall’s Island/9 Reilly Blvd, New York
  • 10:30 a.m. - Media Center opens at Icahn Stadium 
  • 11:00 a.m. - Mandatory photo briefing
  • 12:00 p.m. - Competition begins
  • 10:00 p.m. - Competition concludes
  • 11:30 p.m. - Media center closes

Friday, July 24

  • 8:30 a.m. - Media credential pickup opens
    • FDNY Fire Academy/ Randall’s Island/9 Reilly Blvd, New York
  • 10:30 a.m. - Media Center opens at Icahn Stadium 
  • 11:00 a.m. - Mandatory photo briefing
  • 12:00 p.m. - Competition begins
  • 10:00 p.m. - Competition concludes
  • 11:30 p.m. - Media center closes

Saturday, July 25

  • 8:30 a.m. - Media credential pickup opens
    • FDNY Fire Academy/ Randall’s Island/9 Reilly Blvd, New York
  • 8:30 a.m. - Media Center opens at Icahn Stadium 
  • 9:00 a.m. - Mandatory photo briefing
  • 10:00 a.m. - Competition begins
  • 6:00 p.m. - Competition concludes
  • 8:30 p.m. - Media center closes

Sunday, July 26

  • 12:00 p.m. - Media credential pickup opens
    • FDNY Fire Academy/ Randall’s Island/9 Reilly Blvd, New York
  • 1:30 p.m. - Media Center opens at Icahn Stadium 
  • 2:00 p.m. - Mandatory photo briefing
  • 3:00 p.m. - Competition begins
  • 6:00 p.m. - Competition concludes
  • 8:00 p.m. - Media center closes

CREDENTIAL PICKUP

Credentials will be required for access into Icahn Stadium competition and practice areas starting Tuesday, July 21, 2026. All individuals will be required to show a photo ID to pick up their credentials.

Location: FDNY Fire Academy | Randall’s Island | 9 Reilly Blvd, New York, NY

Tuesday, July 21 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 22 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 23 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday, July 24 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 25 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 26 12:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE

An athlete press conference will be held and open to the media Wednesday, July 22 at 11 a.m. at the New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame on the second floor at 180 Central Park South in Manhattan. The following will be in attendance:

  • Top athletes in all disciplines. Athlete attendees to be announced soon
  • USA Track & Field leadership
  • Representatives from the Local Organizing Committee (Central Park Track Club, USATF-NY, New York Road Runners, Randall’s Island Park Alliance)

Please note that the NYAC follows a strict dress code. Shorts, denim, t-shirts and sweatpants are not permitted. Please see the full dress code here. Those who are not compliant with the dress code will be escorted to a separate entrance to the facility. 

The press conference will be live streamed at USATF’s YouTube page.

Parking is EXTREMELY limited and expensive. We recommend taking rideshare or public transportation to the press conference. If you must drive, the below parking garages are closest to the New York Athletic Club. However, there are no discounted rates available. 

GMC

200 Central Park South
58th Street between Broadway & 7th avenue

Quik Park

125 W 58th street
58th Street between 6th & 7th avenue

EQUIPMENT ALLOWED AT ICAHN STADIUM

Media will be able to bring items that might normally be restricted or prohibited into the secure perimeter as long as they enter through an accredited gate with their accreditation.  These items are collectively referred to as the “tools of the trade” and are necessary for photographers and other media to do their jobs. 

Large video recording equipment will not be permitted in the venue without permission from USA Track & Field.

OPEN PRACTICE 

  • Wednesday, July 22 1-6 p.m. 

Icahn Stadium

All accredited media will be provided access to observe this athlete practice session.

Photography and video is allowed from the STADIUM SEATING BOWL
NO INFIELD OR ON TRACK ACCESS. Your credential will be revoked if you are caught on the infield for the Open Practice Session. 

MEDIA SERVICES AT ICAHN STADIUM Media Center  Icahn Stadium, adjacent to turn 1 of the track

The Media Center will provide tabled workspace, wireless internet access and quick access to the Mixed Zone. Seating in the Media Center is on a first come, first served basis. The media center also allows for quick access to the media viewing area. Complimentary light refreshments will be available daily. 

Mixed Zone

The Mixed Zone is located in the Media Center. 

All interviews with athletes must be conducted with the backdrops in the background. No interviews are permitted outside of the designated media areas. 

Please respect the space of your fellow media members and the athletes. 

Content Creator Zone

The final section of the mixed zone is designed to better facilitate interviews with content creators. We kindly ask all social media content creators to capture their photos, videos, and/or interviews in this space rather than the traditional mixed zone. 

Media Viewing

There is no media tribune at this event. A standing room only media viewing area is available directly outside the media center behind and adjacent to the head on platform with unobstructed views of the track. Please be mindful of photographers in the area as you are viewing the competition.

Photographer Areas 

The head-on photo position is located outside of the first turn of the track. It contains two 4x16 platforms. Space on the head on platform is limited and is first come, first served. 

Photographers will also have access to any area a fan can access. They may shoot from these areas as long as it does not impact the view or experience of a ticket-holding spectator. Wired internet connections and seating for photographers not on deadline are available in the Media Center. 

PHOTOGRAPHER INFORMATION

Any images captured, depicted, or taken by a credentialed photographer at the Toyota USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships, including those of athletes while at Icahn Stadium, the official athlete hotel, and the press conference, shall only be used for still photographic editorial purposes for bona fide news services only.

The use of photographs for advertising or any other commercial or promotional purpose, in any manner, format, media or technology, whether currently existing or created in the future, is strictly prohibited, without the prior consent of USA Track & Field.

PHOTO BRIEFINGS

Attendance at the Photo Briefings is MANDATORY for all accredited photographers on the day they are working. If you are working on multiple days, you must come to photographer briefings on each day

Daily Photo Briefing Schedule

  • Thursday, July 23 - 11 a.m. 
  • Friday, July 24 - 11 a.m. 
  • Saturday, July 25 - 9 a.m. 
  • Sunday, July 26 - 2 p.m.

Photographer Access Zones 

INFIELD (GOLD VEST) - LIMITED Full-time access to the infield and any identified photo position in the stadium. 

OUTFIELD (BLUE VEST) - Access to any identified photo position in the stadium.

Photographers in this group can sign up for a rotating infield vest. 

ROTATING INFIELD (WHITE) - Sign-ups for the rotating infield vests can be made after the Photographer Briefings.

NO GO ZONES 

The No Go Zone extends along the entire home straight plus approximately 50m beyond the finish line for all infield photographers. 

DO NOT shoot from the apron on the outside of the track. 

DO NOT block any signage on the infield or on the ribbon boards surrounding the track. If a meet official asks you to move or gives you instructions, you must comply. Failure to do so could lead to the revocation of your credential.

PHOTOGRAPHER VESTS

Photographers receiving vests will check them out after the Photographer Briefings. 
Please return your vest to the Help Desk in the Media Center at the conclusion of the events on Sunday afternoon or when your coverage has concluded. 

VIDEO RESTRICTIONS  

At no time, once the meet begins and throughout its duration, may accredited media film, tape, or record any competition footage, athlete celebrations, victory laps, or the like that occur on the track or in the infield.

Accredited media are permitted to capture footage of crowd reaction and post-event athlete interviews provided the footage does not include anything restricted (as outlined above). All athlete interviews must be conducted in the Mixed Zone or Content Lounge. 

Full Broadcast Regulations USA Track & Field can be reviewed here. Your credential will be revoked if you are caught filming without prior written permission. If you publish unauthorized video, you will be asked to remove it and your account is at risk of being flagged for copyright violation. 

Getting to Icahn Stadium

🚢 Walk to the Championships from Three Boroughs!

  • Manhattan – 103rd Street Footbridge or RFK Bridge Path
  • Bronx – Randall's Island Connector or RFK Bridge Path
  • Queens – RFK Bridge Path

From Manhattan

  • The closest walkway to Icahn Stadium is to take the RFK Bridge Pedestrian Path – Access from 125th Street & 2nd Avenue, leading directly onto Randall's Island via the ADA-accessible shared-use path. 
  • 103rd Street Footbridge – A scenic pedestrian and bicycle bridge connecting East 103rd Street to the south end of Randall's Island. Approximately a 10–15 minute walk to Icahn Stadium.

From the Bronx

  • Randall's Island Connector – A flat, ADA-accessible pedestrian and bicycle pathway connecting 132nd Street at Willow/Walnut Avenues in the South Bronx directly to the north end of Randall's Island. This is the easiest walking route from the Bronx.
  • RFK Bridge Walkway – Pedestrian access is also available from 133rd Street & Cypress Avenue/Bruckner Boulevard, connecting to the Bronx Shore area of Randall's Island.

From Queens

  • Walk across the RFK Bridge pedestrian path from Astoria (Hoyt Avenue & 27th/28th Street) to Randall's Island. From there, it's about a 15–20 minute walk to Icahn Stadium.

πŸš† Public Transportation

Icahn Stadium is easily accessible by public transportation from Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens.

πŸš‡ Subway & Bus (Recommended)

The easiest way to reach the stadium is by taking the 4, 5, or 6 subway to 125th Street in Manhattan and transferring to the M35 bus, which provides direct service to Randall's Island and stops just a short walk from Icahn Stadium.

🚲 Bike

Cyclists are welcome, and Citi Bike stations are conveniently located throughout Randall's Island, including near Icahn Stadium.
For schedules and trip planning, visit the MTA Trip Planner before traveling.

MEDIA PARKING 

An extremely limited number of parking spaces are available for credentialed media on a first come first serve basis. Please complete this form to request parking. Completion of the form does not guarantee parking. If your application is accepted, instructions will be emailed to you prior to the day of your parking needs.

ATTIRE & DEMEANOR 

All accredited media are asked to wear solid-toe shoes and maintain a consistent appearance in a professional working environment. 
Please respect your fellow media members working around you with appropriate volume levels.  As an accredited member of the media, you should never ask to take a picture with an athlete or ask for their autograph. 
Your credential will be revoked if you ask an athlete for a photograph or an autograph.

BroadCast Schedule

Thursday, July 23 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Peacock, USATF.tv
  4 p.m. - 10 p.m. USATF.tv
Friday, July 24 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.  Peacock, USATF.tv
  4 p.m. - 6 p.m. USATF.tv
  6 p.m. - 8 p.m. NBC, Peacock
  8 p.m. - 10 p.m. USATF.tv
Saturday, July 25 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Peacock, USATF.tv
  2 p.m. - 6 p.m. NBC, Peacock
Sunday, July 26 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.  USATF.tv
  4 p.m. - 6 p.m. NBC, Peacock

*USATF.tv will feature isolated feeds of all field events throughout the duration of the meet.

TICKETS

Tickets can be purchased here. 
Freshtix is the official ticket partner of the Toyota USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships. Tickets purchased from any other site are via third party and we cannot control their pricing our authenticity.

SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITES 

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