United States Olympic trials (track and field)

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Lopez Lomong and Andy McClary at the 2008 Olympic trials in Eugene Lomong headshot.jpg
Lopez Lomong and Andy McClary at the 2008 Olympic trials in Eugene

The United States Olympic trials for the sport of track and field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the year's USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events, this has been considered by many to be the best track meet in the world. The event is regularly shown on domestic U.S. Television and covered by a thousand members of the worldwide media. [1] As with all Olympic sports, the meet is conducted by the national governing body for the sport, currently USA Track & Field (USATF), which was previously named The Athletics Congress (TAC) until 1992. Previous to the formation of TAC in 1979, the national governing body for most sports was the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

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Standards

All countries are allowed to enter a maximum of three athletes into any of the track and field events in the Olympics, provided all three athletes have achieved a verifiable "A" standard performance. A country may enter one athlete in an event having achieved a "B" standard. Or, insignificant to the U.S. team, a country is allowed one single entry if it has no athletes who have achieved a "B" standard. The standards are published well in advance of the meet and provides approximately a year and a half long window for the athletes to achieve such a mark in a verifiable meet. These were the standards for 2008. These were the standards for the 2012 Olympics and these were the standards in 2016.

Entry to the United States Olympic trials is open to any U.S. Citizen who has achieved the "A" standard, and based on superior performance, sufficient "B" standard athletes to fill out the field. Since 1972 there have been a minimum of 24 entries in any event, with the popular sprint events 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters and 110 meter hurdles having a minimum of 32 entries. [2] Since 1992, athletes achieving the "A" standard are funded to attend the Olympic trials, while "B" standard athletes have to pay their own way to the meet.

Unlike many other countries, who have a selection committee, the selection to the United States Olympic Team is exclusively by results on the track. It's "do or die" in the prescribed event. If two or more athletes in an event final have met the "A" standard by the end of that event in the trials, then the top three who have met the "A" standard, based on their placement in the trials (finalists, in order of finish, then semi-finalists, in order of semi-final time/distance, then preliminary rounds, in order of best preliminary round time/distance), are on the Olympic team, with the fourth-best placement among those meeting the "A" standard being an alternate. If fewer than two athletes in an event final have met the "A" standard, then the best finisher in the trials who has met the "B" standard is on the Olympic team, with the second-best being an alternate. Should no athletes who competed in an event meet the "B" standard, USA sends no athletes in that event to the Olympics. [3]

History

The 1964 U.S. Olympic trials for track and field held at Downing Stadium in Randalls Island, New York City 30 years of progress, 1934-1964 - Department of Parks - 300th anniversary of the City of New York - New York World's Fair. (1964) (16664520452).jpg
The 1964 U.S. Olympic trials for track and field held at Downing Stadium in Randalls Island, New York City

Prior to 1908, the United States Olympic team was selected. The 1908 and 1912 teams were selected based on regional trials, though the Eastern trials were favored. There were no Olympic trials in 1916 due to World War I, nor 1940 and 1944 due to World War II, though Olympic marathon team members were named in 1940. [2] The men's trials in 1968 were held at high elevation in northern California at Echo Summit, south of Lake Tahoe. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Until 1972 the women's Olympic trials were held separately. Also until 1972, the men's Olympic trials conducted semi-final trials earlier in the season. Some events, including the Marathon and Racewalk frequently have separate Olympic trials. The 1980 Olympic team was named but did not participate due to the 1980 Olympic Boycott in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan declared by President Jimmy Carter. [2]


2020 Olympic trials held 2021

United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and the TrackTown USA Local Organizing Committee announced the release of the updated competition schedule for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team trials – Track and Field, that will take place June 18-27, 2021, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. [9]

Venues

Combined Olympic trials

YearLocationVenueDates
2024 Eugene, Oregon Hayward Field, University of Oregon June 21–30, 2024
2020 Eugene, OregonHayward Field, University of OregonJune 18–27, 2021
2016 Eugene, OregonHayward Field, University of OregonJuly 1–10, 2016
2012 Eugene, OregonHayward Field, University of OregonJune 21 – July 1, 2012
2008 Eugene, OregonHayward Field, University of OregonJune 27 – July 6, 2008
2004 Sacramento, California Hornet Stadium, California State University, Sacramento July 9–18, 2004
2000 Sacramento, CaliforniaHornet Stadium, California State University, SacramentoJuly 14–23, 2000
1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Stadium June 14–23, 1996
1992 New Orleans Tad Gormley Stadium June 19–28, 1992
1988 Indianapolis IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, IUPUI July 15–23, 1988
1984 Los Angeles Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum June 16–24, 1984
1980 Eugene, OregonHayward Field, University of OregonJune 21–29, 1980
1976 Eugene, OregonHayward Field, University of OregonJune 19–27, 1976

Men's Olympic trials

YearLocationVenueDates
1972 Eugene, Oregon Hayward Field, University of Oregon June 29 – July 11
1968 Echo Summit trailhead, California Nebelhorn ski area (temporary facility) [7] [8] September 6–16
1964 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum September 12–13
1960 Stanford, California Stanford Stadium, Stanford University July 1–2
1956 Los AngelesLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumJune 29–30
1952 Los AngelesLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumJuly 27–28
1948 Evanston, Illinois Dyche Stadium, Northwestern University July 9–10
1936 Randall's Island, New York Randall's Island Stadium July 11–12
1932 Stanford, CaliforniaStanford Stadium, Stanford UniversityJuly 15–16
1928 Cambridge, Massachusetts Harvard Stadium, Harvard University July 6–7
1924Cambridge, MassachusettsHarvard Stadium, Harvard UniversityJune 13–14
1920Cambridge, MassachusettsHarvard Stadium, Harvard UniversityJuly 16–17

Women's Olympic trials

YearLocationVenueDates
1972 Frederick, Maryland Governor Thomas Johnson High School July 7–8
1968 Walnut, California Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Mount San Antonio College August 24–25
1964 Randall's Island, New York Downing Stadium August 6–8
1960 Abilene, Texas Elmer Gray Stadium, Abilene Christian University July 15–16
1956Washington, D.C. Reeves Field, American University August 25
1952 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Fager Field, William Penn High School (Harrisburg) July 4
1948 Providence, Rhode Island Brown Stadium, Brown University July 12
1936 Providence, Rhode IslandBrown Stadium, Brown UniversityJuly 4
1932 Evanston, Illinois Dyche Stadium, Northwestern University July 16
1928 Newark, New Jersey Newark Schools Stadium July 4

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/OlympicTrials-TF/ USATF Olympic trials 2008
  2. 1 2 3 http://www.legacy.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf The History of the Olympic trials, published by USATF
  3. ↑ http://www.usatf.org/events/2012/OlympicGames/entry/12%20SOG%20(ATH)%20ATH%20June%2014%202011.pdf%20approved%20with%20signature.pdf 2012 Selection Procedure
  4. ↑ "U.S. begins first work at altitude". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. July 16, 1968. p. 13.
  5. ↑ Payne, Bob (August 16, 1968). "Olympic camp's press 'ban' unpopular". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 18.
  6. ↑ "Vanderstock shatters record; Ryun 7th". Eugene-Register Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. September 12, 1968. p. 1B.
  7. 1 2 Underwood, John (September 23, 1968). "Triumph at tragedy at Tahoe". Sports Illustrated. p. 18.
  8. 1 2 Burns, Bob (July 3, 2000). "Magic Mountain". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  9. ↑ "USA Track & Field | USATF announces updated 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field competition schedule". usatf.org. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
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