World Athletics Raises 2028 LA Olympic Qualification Bars
Entry standards for endurance and sprint events are faster, and 60 percent of spots will now go to world rankings.
By Justin Brooks ·
Track and field athletes targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics face faster qualifying times and a new selection formula. World Athletics announced the updated rules on Tuesday, shifting the balance away from single-event results toward global competitive standing.
The qualification system now splits Olympic berths differently than the Paris 2024 cycle. Previously, spots were divided evenly between entry standards and world rankings. Under the new framework, only 40 percent of athletes will qualify by meeting specific performance benchmarks. The remaining 60 percent will be selected based on their world rankings. This structure applies to 23 men's events, 23 women's events, and two mixed relay categories.
The most drastic changes appear in endurance races. The men's marathon standard has dropped from 2:08:10 to 2:05:00, a cut of more than three minutes. The women's marathon requirement has tightened from 2:26:50 to 2:22:20. That new women's mark is faster than any time previously recorded by a Canadian distance runner.
Middle-distance events see similar pressure. The men's 5,000 meter standard is now 12:50, down from 13:05. The women's standard has dropped to 14:34 from 14:52. In the 1,500 meters, the men's requirement is 3:30.00, while the women's is 3:57.50. These adjustments aim to raise the competitive level in these demanding distances.
Sprinters also face higher bars. The men's 100 meter entry standard has been reduced to 9.93 seconds from 10.00. The women's mark has fallen to 10.96 seconds from 11.07. Meeting these numbers is necessary but not sufficient for a spot. If more athletes meet the standard than there are quota places, the remaining spots go to those with the best performances during the qualification period. In that scenario, no athletes from that event qualify via world rankings.
Qualification windows open at different times depending on the discipline. For marathon runners, the period begins on November 1, 2026, and ends on April 30, 2028. The 10,000 meter, combined events, race walks, and relays start their qualification clock on December 19. All other track and field events will have a window running from June 19, 2027, to June 18, 2028.
The athletics competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Games is scheduled for July 15 through July 30. The primary track and field program will be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
