United States Olympic trials (track and field)
Introduction Lopez Lomong and Andy McClary at the 2008 Olympic trials in EugeneThe '''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. 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).
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. 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.
History 1964 U.S. Olympic trials for track and field held at Downing Stadium in Randalls Island, New York CityPrior 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 men's trials in 1968 were held at high elevation in northern California at Echo Summit, south of Lake Tahoe.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.===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.
Venues ===Combined Olympic trials===YearLocationVenueDates 2024 Eugene, Oregon  Hayward Field, University of Oregon  June 21–30, 2024 2020 Eugene, Oregon  Hayward Field, University of Oregon  June 18–27, 2021 2016 Eugene, Oregon  Hayward Field, University of Oregon  July 1–10, 2016 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  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, 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===YearLocationVenueDates 1972  Eugene, Oregon  Hayward Field, University of Oregon  June 29 – July 11 1968  Echo Summit trailhead, California  Nebelhorn ski area (temporary facility)  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 Angeles  Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum  June 29–30 1952  Los Angeles  Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum  July 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, California  Stanford Stadium, Stanford University  July 15–16 1928  Cambridge, Massachusetts  Harvard Stadium, Harvard University  July 6–7 1924  Cambridge, Massachusetts   Harvard Stadium, Harvard University   June 13–14 1920  Cambridge, Massachusetts   Harvard Stadium, Harvard University   July 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 1956  Washington, 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 Island  Brown Stadium, Brown University  July 4 1932  Evanston, Illinois   Dyche Stadium, Northwestern University July 16 1928  Newark, New Jersey    Newark Schools Stadium July 4
References
External links * Article from ''Time Magazine''