MARATHON OLYMPIC TRIALS Standards GO Faster: Los Angeles 2028

USA Olympic Marathon Trials Standards for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics: A Comprehensive Overview The road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is underway, and USA Track & Field (USATF) has set the stage for marathon runners aiming to compete in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon. On June 2, 2025, USATF announced the qualifying standards for the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials, introducing significant updates to the qualification process, including the return of “A” and “B” standards, a shift to chip timing, and revised time cutoffs. These changes aim to balance competitive fields, athlete accessibility, and performance optimization while aligning with the evolving landscape of marathon running. This essay provides a detailed summary of the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials standards, their implications for athletes, and the broader context of the qualification process, drawing primarily from USATF’s official announcements and related sources. Qualifying Standards and Structure The 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials standards are designed to create competitive fields of approximately 200 men and 200 women, a target informed by data from the 2024 Trials, where 228 men and 173 women qualified. The standards include both marathon and half-marathon times, as well as alternative qualification pathways, ensuring a mix of elite and sub-elite runners can compete. The key standards are as follows: Marathon “B” Standard: Men: 2:16:00, a two-minute tightening from the 2024 standard of 2:18:00. Women: 2:3700, unchanged from 2024. Qualifying Window: Marathon: Opens September 1, 2025, and closes 45 to 60 days before the Trials date (TBD, but historically held in February, as seen in 2016, 2020, and 2024). Half-Marathon: Opens January 1, 2027, and closes on the same deadline as the marathon window. Alternative Qualification Pathways: Top-10 finishes at the 2025, 2026, or 2027 U.S. Marathon Championships. Members of the 2016, 2021, or 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Teams, provided they are USATF members in good standing and eligible to represent the United States in international competitions. These standards reflect USATF’s goal of fostering a competitive yet accessible Trials field. The men’s marathon standard, tightened to 2:16:00, responds to the surge in faster performances, with only 65 men meeting this mark in the 2024 qualifying window compared to 139 of 220 qualifiers running faster than 2:16:00. The women’s standard, unchanged at 2:37:00, aligns with the 135 women who qualified at or below this time in 2024, ensuring continuity for female runners. The half-marathon standards remain consistent, offering an alternative entry point for athletes who excel in shorter distances. Key Changes in the Qualification Process The 2028 Trials introduce several notable changes to the qualification process, reflecting athlete feedback and advancements in marathon running: Return of “A” and “B” Standards: USATF has reinstated the two-tiered “A” and “B” standard system, last used in 2016. The “B” standard (2:16:00 for men, 2:37:00 for women, and the half-marathon equivalents) guarantees entry into the Trials, while the “A” standard, yet to be set, offers additional benefits like travel and accommodation funding. A significant update is the adoption of chip timing over gun timing for all qualifying races. Previously, men’s qualifying times were based on gun time, which disadvantaged runners starting behind elite waves in large marathons like Chicago or New York City. Chip timing, which measures an athlete’s individual start-to-finish time, levels the playing field, particularly for sub-elite runners who may lose seconds crossing crowded starting lines. This change was driven by feedback from athletes, coaches, and agents during USATF’s town hall meetings, emphasizing fairness and accessibility. Faster Men’s Standard: The men’s marathon standard of 2:16:00 is two minutes faster than the 2024 standard, reflecting the increasing competitiveness of U.S. male marathoners. This adjustment aligns with the impact of carbon-plated “super shoes,” which have lowered times since their widespread adoption in 2017. In contrast, the women’s standard remains at 2:37:00, acknowledging the already stringent 2024 cutoff, which reduced the women’s field from 511 in 2020 to 173 in 2024. No Late Entry or Declaration Period: USATF has eliminated late entry or declaration periods, requiring athletes to meet standards within the designated window. Appeals can be made to Sport Committee Chairs via email (highperformance@usatf.org), ensuring a structured process. Implications for Athletes The updated standards and procedures have significant implications for runners aiming for the 2028 Trials: Increased Competition for Men: The faster men’s marathon standard (2:16:00) will likely reduce the number of qualifiers compared to 2024, where 228 men qualified (219 via marathon times). Only 65 men hit 2:16:00 or faster in the 2024 window.