2028 Trials Mark Return of ‘A’ and ‘B’ Standards and Move to Chip Timing
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – June 2, 2025 – USA Track & Field (USATF) announced today the qualification standards for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, which includes the return to ‘A’ and ‘B’ standards to prioritize full fields and a move to chip times for qualification.
The men’s entry (‘B’) standard has been lowered by two minutes from 2:18:00 in 2024 to 2:16:00 in 2028, while the women’s standard will remain at 2:37:00. Both standards were set based on data from the 2024 Olympic Trials qualification period with a goal of roughly 200-athlete fields in 2028. Those who achieve the ‘A’ standards–which are to be determined at a later date in coordination with the local organizing committee–will receive travel and accommodation funding.
New for 2028, all qualifying times for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon will be taken from an athlete’s chip time rather than gun time. The shift is designed to standardize marks, improve accuracy and provide a more equitable qualification process for runners who don’t have access to an elite starting line.
These changes come following multiple town hall meetings in which the Long Distance Running (LDR) Committees—a majority athletes including nine Olympians—listened to feedback from athletes, coaches, and agents to establish qualification procedures that best prioritize athletes’ needs.
“We’re thrilled to see the work of the LDR committees come to fruition as we introduce the qualifying procedures for the 2028 Trials,” said USATF Director of Long Distance Running Programs and 2008 Olympian Amy Begley. “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.”
The qualifying window for athletes to clock the standard in an eligible race opens on September 1, 2025, and closes 60 days prior to the date of the Trials in 2028. A ‘Road to Trials’ qualification list to track those who have hit the standard in an eligible race will be available when the qualification window opens.
“As we look ahead to the 2028 Olympic Trials, we are extremely excited to know that we’ll have best-in-class qualification standards to help ensure that full fields toe the line in both the men’s and women’s races,” said USATF CEO Max Siegel. “We are committed to delivering a world-class and unforgettable experience for competitors and fans while we select the marathon squad who will represent the U.S. in the first home Games of the millennium.”
Additional opportunities for qualification are outlined here.
