Preparing for the 2028 Olympic Trials: Key Event Requirements

As the journey toward the 2028 Olympic Games begins, USATF officially opened qualifying for the Olympic Team Trials - Marathon on September 1. The qualifying standards and procedures, which were shared in June, are available on the USATF website.

With qualification under way, it is essential for both athletes and race organizers to understand the requirements for events to ensure performances are eligible for consideration.

Performance Eligibility

Eligible performances will only be accepted from events that hold both an active USATF-certified course certificate and a USATF sanction, or an accepted international equivalent. It is the responsibility of athletes to verify that their chosen events meet both criteria before competing. Additionally, race organizers must take the appropriate steps to meet USATF requirements should they promote the ability to qualify for the Trials at their event.

Course Certification

A certified course has been accurately measured and verified according to standards set by USATF, World Athletics, or AIMS. For trials qualification, an additional requirement applies: the course must have an elevation loss no greater than 3.3 meters per kilometer. This ensures that performances are fair, consistent, and comparable across approved events.

Event Sanctioning

Sanctioning, issued by USATF through local Associations, authorizes and licenses the holding of competitive events such as track & field, road races, and race walking across the United States. It signifies adherence to national and international rules, commitment to safety, and proper management of event operations.

Once an event satisfies all sanctioning criteria, the application is approved. International events sanctioned by a member federation of World Athletics are also considered sanctioned for U.S. Olympic Trials qualification purposes.
USATF sanctioning provides access to cost-effective event insurance. If an event is already insured, organizers may opt to waive the USATF liability insurance and pay a reduced sanction fee. Even without insurance, the event retains other benefits of USATF sanctioning, including recognition and compliance.

Stay Informed

The standards and procedures for the 2028 Olympic Team Trials - Marathon are based on USATF's current understanding of the World Athletics and USOPC qualification regulations. These may evolve as new updates are released, so both athletes and race organizers are encouraged to stay informed. Ensuring all performances are certified and verified per USATF rules remains a critical step in the qualification process.