United States Olympic Trials (track and field)

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 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 and 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 "amateur" sports was the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

Standards

Paul Cummings winning the 10,000 metres at the 1984 Olympic Trials in Los Angeles

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 are the standards for the 2012 Olympics, released April 12, 2011.

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 it has been determined that there should be 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

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. The 1980 Olympic team was named but did not participate due to the 1980 Olympic Boycott declared by then President Jimmy Carter.[2]

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.[2]

Combined Olympic Trials

Edition Venue Stadium Date
2016 Eugene, Oregon Hayward Field, University of Oregon TBD
2012 Eugene, Oregon Hayward Field, University of Oregon June 21 - July 1, 2012
2008 Eugene, Oregon Hayward Field, University of Oregon June 27 – July 6, 2008
2004 Sacramento, California Hornet Stadium, California State University, Sacramento July 9–18, 2004
2000 Sacramento, California Hornet Stadium, California State University, Sacramento July 14–23, 2000
1996 Atlanta, Georgia Centennial Olympic Stadium June 14–23, 1996
1992 New Orleans, Louisiana Tad Gormley Stadium June 19–28, 1992
1988 Indianapolis, Indiana IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, IUPUI July 15–23, 1988
1984 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum June 16–24, 1984
1980 Eugene, Oregon Hayward Field, University of Oregon June 21–29, 1980
1976 Eugene, Oregon Hayward Field, University of Oregon June 19–27, 1976

Men's Olympic Trials

Edition Venue Stadium Date
1972 Eugene, Oregon Hayward Field, University of Oregon June 29 – July 11, 1972
1968 Echo Summit, California September 6–16, 1968
1964 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum September 12–13, 1964
1960 Stanford, California Stanford Stadium, Stanford University July 1–2, 1960
1956 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum June 29–30, 1956
1952 Los Angeles, California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum July 27–28, 1952
1948 Evanston, Illinois Dyche Stadium, Northwestern University July 9–10, 1948
1936 Randall's Island, New York Randall's Island Stadium July 11–12, 1936
1936 Chicago, Illinois Stagg Field, University of Chicago June 19–20, 1936
1932 Stanford, California Stanford Stadium, Stanford University July 15–16, 1932
1928 Cambridge, Massachusetts July 6–7, 1928
1924 Cambridge, Massachusetts June 13–14, 1924
1920 Cambridge, Massachusetts July 16–17, 1920

Women's Olympic Trials

Edition Venue Stadium Date
1972 Frederick, Maryland Governor Thomas Johnson High School July 7–8, 1972
1968 Walnut, California Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Mount San Antonio College August 24–25, 1968
1964 Randall's Island, New York Downing Stadium July 6–8, 1964
1960 Abilene, Texas July 15–16, 1960
1956 Washington, D.C. August 25, 1956
1952 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania July 4, 1952
1948 Providence, Rhode Island July 12, 1948
1936 Providence, Rhode Island July 4, 1936
1932 Evanston, Illinois Dyche Stadium, Northwestern University July 16, 1932
1928 Newark, New Jersey July 4, 1928

References

  1. ↑ http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/OlympicTrials-TF/ USATF Olympic Trials 2008
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.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

External links