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What is the USATF?

Dating back to the mid-1960's, the USA Track Field program is the most visible youth athlete developmental program in the world. Nearly 70,000 youth athletes compete each year in the Junior Olympic Track & Field and Cross Country programs. Many of America's Olympians began as youth athletes, including stars such as Jeremy Wariner, Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards, Bryan Clay, Lauryn Williams, Adam Nelson, Deena Kastor and Meb Keflezighi.

Through a series of progressional events consisting of preliminary, Association, and Regional meets, athletes have the opportunity to advance to the National Championships in track & field and cross country.
Once a USATF members, participants can enter the Junior Olympics either as part of a USATF club or as "unattached." Competition takes place in age divisions, from 8 & under through 17-18.

On the non-competitive side, USATF's "Win With Integrity" program showcases star athletes speaking with local schools about the importance of fitness, a healthy lifestyle, living with integrity--including a drug-free life--and setting goals. "Win With Integrity" has been enthusiastically embraced by USATF athletes and the students to whom they speak. Watch for "Win With Integrity" in your area!

About USATF Track and Field

The USATF has both indoor and outdoor track and field events. Outdoor events are divided into association, regional, and national levels. Indoor track and field events are national meets only. Athletes compete against others of their gender in their age group. Age groups are divided in six levels, with the youngest at eight years and under, and the eldest at seventeen and eighteen years of age:

* Per USATF Rule 300.1 (c) “Athletes must be at least seven (7) years of age on December 31 of the current year to compete at the Youth Athletics or Junior Olympic National Championships.”

** Athletes who are still 18 through the final day of the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships are eligible to compete in the 17-18 age division through that meet. This extended eligibility does not apply to cross country events.
Each athlete must be a registered USATF member or in an approved USATF club member in order to compete. Athletes can either compete as part of team or club or as individual or 'unattached' status. Registration at events requires an USATF membership card or card number. Registration costs a small fee and can be purchased for multi-years. Easy online registration is available at the USATF Membership Page.

Events

The USA Track and Field events include:
Shotput
Javelin
Discus
High Jump
Long Jump
Triple Jump
Pole Vault
Hurdles
Relays
Race walks
Running events ranging from 100 meter dash to 3000 meter run

For indoor track and field, combined events include a triathlon consisting of shot put, high jump, and 200 meter dash for the younger athletes, and a pentathlon consisting of 55 meter hurdles, shot put, high and long jump, and 800 or 1000 meter run for upper-age participants. Combined outdoor track and field events include a triathlon, pentathlon, decathlon, and heptathlon consisting of various events designed for each age group.

Junior Olympics
The USATF holds Junior Olympic sports games once per year. In order to be eligible to participate in the USATF Junior Olympics track and field events, an athlete must be one of the top five finishers in a regional event.
Advancement Process
o Qualifying from Association Championships to Regional Championships
Per USATF Rule 305.1(d): "An Association is allocated, by agreement with other Associations in its Region, a certain number of athletes and relay teams from the Association level to the Regional level through the Association Championships."
o Qualifying from Regional Championships to the National Championships
Per USATF 305.2 (d): Track & Field shall advance five individuals and five relay teams from each Regional to National. These shall be the top five finishers in each event. The combined events shall advance the top two placed individuals and any others who meet a performance standard at the Regional Championship. The performance standard for all events is the average of the 8th place in the last three National Junior Olympic Championships. The host Association shall qualify a like number.

Junior Olympic Cross Country
Cross country dates back to the turn of the 20th century as an Olympic Sport when it was contested as a team and individual event at the 1904, 1912, 1920 and 1924 Summer Games. The Olympic spirit is still alive in the sport today as thousands of youth athletes compete throughout the fall in USATF's Junior Olympic Cross Country program. The Junior Olympic Cross Country program culminates each December when more than 2,500 youth cross country runners hit the course to compete in the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships. Entry for the national championship is based on athlete performances at preliminary, Association, and Regional levels.
Advancement
See USATF Competition Rule 305.3 for specific rules on qualifying for the National Championships. Generally, the first 20 individual finishers and first three teams in each age division at the Regional Championships will qualify for the National Championships. Athletes and teams from some Associations will qualify directly from their Association Championships as follows: top 10 individuals and 1st team in each age division. Contact your local association or regional meet director to learn more about how to qualify for the National Championships. Participant numbers are fixed and no alternate athletes may advance if qualifying athletes or teams choose not to enter the National Championships.
All entry forms for the National Championships will be submitted through the online entry declaration process – entries cannot be accepted by any other method.