Qualifying standards in athletics
Encyclopedia
In sports under the athletics banner, certain competitions require an athlete to meet a qualifying standard, meaning a mark as good or better than this set mark, in order to be eligible to compete. Its obvious, an elite level competition does not want to embarrass its reputation nor the competitor in an event beyond their competition level. With a limited number of lanes on the track (or field event facilities) they must limit the number of competitors participating in a given amount of time at a meet.
and IAAF World Championships in Athletics
, the world governing body for athletics, the IAAF publishes standards in advance of the competitions. The currently expressed standards are intended to qualify about 2,000 athletes across all disciplines (24 men's events and 23 women's events) to be eligible to compete in these meets.
Normally an athlete has a window of time to achieve their mark at any competition "organised or authorised by the IAAF, its Area Associations or its National Member Federations in conformity with IAAF Rules. Results achieved at university or school competitions must be certified by the National Federation of the country in which the competition was organised." These qualitative conduct standards would be equivalent to those requirements to certify a world record
.
Entries for these high level competitions must be selected by the national governing body (NGB) or in the case of the Olympics, must be submitted by the national Olympic committee (NOC). Each country is allowed to choose their own method of selecting the names submitted. The United States Olympic Committee
, for example, conducts the Olympic Trials
, through its national governing body USATF, and for events other than relays, selection is based purely on placement in that meet. However UK Athletics
has a selection committee that uses a variety of athletic results in an evaluation process.
There are two levels of standards:
As standards change from year to year, the current standards will be updated here.
High level competition
For the highest elite level competitions like the OlympicsAthletics at the Summer Olympics
Athletics has been contested at every Summer Olympics since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics. The athletics program traces its earliest roots to events used in the ancient Greek Olympics. The modern program now comprises track and field events, road running...
and IAAF World Championships in Athletics
IAAF World Championships in Athletics
The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
, the world governing body for athletics, the IAAF publishes standards in advance of the competitions. The currently expressed standards are intended to qualify about 2,000 athletes across all disciplines (24 men's events and 23 women's events) to be eligible to compete in these meets.
Normally an athlete has a window of time to achieve their mark at any competition "organised or authorised by the IAAF, its Area Associations or its National Member Federations in conformity with IAAF Rules. Results achieved at university or school competitions must be certified by the National Federation of the country in which the competition was organised." These qualitative conduct standards would be equivalent to those requirements to certify a world record
World records in athletics
World records in the sport of athletics are ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Athletics records comprise the best performances in the sports of track and field, road running and racewalking....
.
Entries for these high level competitions must be selected by the national governing body (NGB) or in the case of the Olympics, must be submitted by the national Olympic committee (NOC). Each country is allowed to choose their own method of selecting the names submitted. The United States Olympic Committee
United States Olympic Committee
The United States Olympic Committee is a non-profit organization that serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and coordinates the relationship between the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency and various...
, for example, conducts the Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
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,...
, through its national governing body USATF, and for events other than relays, selection is based purely on placement in that meet. However UK Athletics
UK Athletics
UK Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for overseeing the governance of athletics events in the UK as well as athletes, their development, and athletics officials....
has a selection committee that uses a variety of athletic results in an evaluation process.
There are two levels of standards:
The "A" Standard
The "A" standard is the most difficult to achieve. An NOC "may enter up to three athletes for each event on the athletics program, provided they have achieved the A standard. In addition they can enter one reserve athlete for the same event provided he/she has also achieved the A standard."The "B" Standard
'NOCs may enter one athlete for each event on the athletics program if he/she has achieved at least the B standard. In addition they can enter one reserve athlete for the same event provided he/she has also achieved at least the B standard.Unqualified competitors
In order to make the meet globally encompassing, every NOC or NGB, is allowed to submit one athlete to compete, even if they have not achieved the standards. The hosting country for the meet is allowed to enter one athlete per event.Current Standards
The current standards are published here.As standards change from year to year, the current standards will be updated here.