On June 2, USA Track & Field (USATF) announced the qualifying procedures for the 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials, which includes “A” and “B” standards.
The “B” standard, which guarantees entry into the race, will be 2:37:00 for women and 2:16:00 for men.
The “A” standard is to be determined. It will be set in coordination with the local organizing committee and will include travel and accommodation funding.
As of now, there is no date or location set for the 2028 Trials.
The qualifying window will open on September 1, 2025 and close 60 days before the date of the Trials, according to an email from USATF.
“We’re thrilled to see the work of the [Long Distance Running] committees come to fruition as we introduce the qualifying procedures for the 2028 Trials,” said Amy Begley, the USATF Director of Long Distance Running Programs, in a press release. “The standards and qualifying window were formed with direct feedback from athletes, coaches, and agents at the front of mind with the goal of creating an environment that prioritizes athletes’ performance needs. We’ve had such a surge of young, record-breaking talent on the roads in recent years and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2028.”
While the women’s minimum qualifying mark of 2:37 is the same as last Olympic cycle, the men’s standard is two minutes quicker. Among the entrants in the 2024 Trials, 135 women ran 2:37 or faster to qualify but only 65 men ran 2:16 or quicker, according to the race website. USATF said it is targeting a goal of 200 total runners for 2028.
The organization also announced that all qualifying times can be considered by the athlete’s chip time instead of gun time, which has been used for the men’s races in the past. This could allow runners who start behind the elite waves—in a massive marathon like the Chicago Marathon, for example—to not have to worry about making up lost time by rushing their way up to the start line.
There are multiple other ways of qualifying in addition to these standards. Members of the 2016, 2021, and 2024 Olympic marathon teams will qualify for the A standard, as well as the 2025, 2026, and 2027 U.S. Marathon champions and the members of the 2025 and 2027 World Championship U.S. marathon teams.
There are various ways to earn a B standard as well, including achieving marks in the half marathon—1:03:00 for men, 1:12:00 for women—or finishing top 10 at a platinum label marathon. Courtney Dauwalter Hasnt Hit Her Limit Yet here.
The lead-up to the 2024 Olympic Trials was not without controversy. Orlando was awarded the host bid after Chattanooga was disqualified due to an alleged conflict of interest. Then, organizers of the Orlando race announced a noon start time. But after athlete pushback Races - Places.
Fiona O’Keffee, Emily Sisson, Dakotah Popehn qualified for the Olympics on the women’s side and Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, and Lenny Korir filled out the team for the men.
As of now, there is no date or location set for the 2028 Trials Runner’s World. He’s a former all-conference collegiate runner at Winthrop University, and he received his master’s degree in liberal arts studies from Wake Forest University, where he was a member of one of the top distance-running teams in the NCAA. Kahler has reported on the ground at major events such as the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials, New York City Marathon, and Boston Marathon. He’s run 14:20 in the 5K, 1:05:36 in the half marathon, and enjoys spotting tracks from the sky on airplanes. (Look for colorful ovals around football fields.)
