by Larry Eder
The 2024 USATF Olympic Team Trials for the marathon is one of the most anticipated events on the US Olympic Trials calendar. The crowd in Atlanta was magnificent. USATF provides below a very concise and thorough explanation of the qualifying standards. Good luck to all who are putting in miles, from Fargo, North Dakota, to Portland, Maine, and everywhere in between, to make their dreams a reality.
Who will be the surprise of 2024? And there always is a surprise in the marathon.
2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS – MARATHON QUALIFICATIONS
Outlined below is information regarding the qualifying standards for participation in the 2024 USATF Olympic Team Trials – Marathon event.
Qualifying Standards
The 2024 Olympic Team Trials – Marathon standards/procedures will be based on USATF’s current understanding of World Athletics’ 2024 Olympic Qualifying Procedures and the USOPC’s Olympic Qualifying Procedures. Accordingly, these standards/procedures are subject to change based on any updated Olympic Qualifying Procedures or World Athletics Qualifying Procedures.
| Gender | Event | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Men | Marathon | 2:18:00 |
| Men | Half Marathon | 1:03:00 |
| Women | Marathon | 2:37:00 |
| Women | Half Marathon | 1:12:00 |
Qualifying Window
- Marathon: January 1, 2022, to December 5, 2023
- Half Marathon: January 1, 2023, to December 5, 2023
Additional Opportunities
- Overall Champions of the 2022 and 2023 USATF Running Circuit will be considered as having met the qualifying standard.
- The top six (6) finishers in the 2023 USATF Marathon Championships (site and date TBD) will be considered as having met the standard.
- Any athlete that has met the Olympic standard will be considered as having met the Olympic Trials Standard.
- An athlete is eligible for “automatic qualification” (USATF Rule 8) if that athlete has accomplished the following:
- Placing 1st at either the 2022 USATF Marathon Championship or the 2023 USATF Marathon Championship
- Earned an individual medal in the 2022 World Athletics Championships Marathon or 2023 World Athletics Championships Marathon
- Was a member of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team
Qualifying Guidelines
- Athletes must achieve the qualifying standard listed above or be qualified under the Additional Opportunities section above in order to enter the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon event.
- The qualifying mark must be made on a USATF-certified course in an event sanctioned by USA Track & Field or a member federation of World Athletics. The course must be USATF/WORLD ATHLETICS/AIMS certified with an active course certification and have an elevation loss no greater than 3.30 meters/km. All course configurations will be accepted (no minimum separation).
- All qualifying performances are subject to verification.
- “Gun” time is the only acceptable method of timing for men. Consideration may be given to “net/chip” times for competitors with “gun” times extremely close to the above qualifying time standards. “Net/chip” will be considered an acceptable method of timing for the women.
