World Athletics has published the LA28 athletics qualification system for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Athletes will earn 40% of places through entry standards and 60% through world rankings, a change from the 50-50 split used for Paris 2024.
Track and field at the Games runs July 15 to 30, 2028. The first qualifying window, for the marathon, already opened on Nov. 1, 2026.
How LA28 athletics qualification works
The program has 48 events, including 23 for men, 23 for women and two mixed events. The mixed 4x100m relay makes its Olympic debut, according to a report of the World Athletics announcement.
Meeting a standard does not guarantee a place. If more athletes hit a standard than there are spots, the best performers in the qualifying period get them. In that case, nobody qualifies through rankings for that event.
New entry standards and windows
Most standards are tougher than in Paris. For example, the men’s 100m standard moves from 10.00 to 9.93 seconds, and the women’s from 11.07 to 10.96. The men’s marathon drops from 2:08:10 to 2:05:00, and the women’s from 2:26:50 to 2:22:20, as the Jamaica Observer listed.
A few field standards loosen slightly. The men’s long jump moves from 8.27 to 8.30 meters, and the decathlon rises from 8,460 to 8,650 points.
Qualifying runs in three windows:
- Marathon: Nov. 1, 2026 to April 30, 2028.
- 10,000m, combined events, race walks and relays: Dec. 19, 2026 to June 18, 2028.
- All other track and field events: June 19, 2027 to June 18, 2028.
What happens next
For relays, the first 14 national Olympic committees at the World Athletics Relays in The Bahamas on April 22 and 23, 2028, qualify. In the marathon, the top 56 athletes on the filtered list as of March 19, 2028, earn spots. Also, World Athletics plans a “Road to LA” tracking system in late 2027.
Fans in Los Angeles can start planning now, since the Games are less than two years away. Our guide to LA28 venues and dates covers where events take place, and the health and sports hub has more local coverage.
This article reflects reports as of Nov. 10, 2026. World Athletics may adjust details, so check its site for the final rules.