USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships is an annual track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport. Since 1992, in years which feature a Summer Olympics, World Athletics Championships or an IAAF Continental Cup, the championships serve as a way of selecting the best athletes for those competitions.
Current season, competition or edition: 2020 United States Olympic Trials (track and field) | |
Sport | Track and field |
---|---|
Founded | 1980 |
Country | United States |
Related competitions | U.S. Olympic Trials |
Official website | USATF Official website |
History
The history of the competition starts in 1876, when the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) decided to organize a national championships.[1] Having previously held the NYAC Spring and Fall Games. The seventh, eight, and ninth edition of the Fall Games became the country's first, second and third national track and field championships. The Amateur Championship of America (prior to N.A.A.A.) 1876 to 1878 were all held in Mott Haven, New York. April 22, 1879 N.A.A.A. was formed. The National Association of Amateur Athletes of America (N.A.A.A.), began sponsoring the meeting in 1879, and organized the championships up to 1887. Past N.A.A.A. presidents were 1879 George W Carr was elected president, 1880 & 1881 & 1882 A. H. Curtis was elected president, 1883 & 1884 & 1885 Gilbert H Badeu elected president, and 1887 Walter Storm was elected. At this point, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), a more powerful athletic organization, began to hold their own version of the national championships. Two national championships were held in 1888, but the NAAA disbanded after this. The NAAA Championships 1879 to 1888 were all held in New York. Sept 19, 1888 the First AAU Outdoor Championship was held in Detroit, MI. Sept 14, 1889 Second Annual AAU T&F Championship competition was held at Travers Island, NY. Oct 11, 1890 Third Annual AAU T&F National Championship competition was held at Washington, DC. The AAU was the sole organizer of the event for the next ninety years.[1] In 1923, the AAU also sponsored the first American Track & Field championships for women.
As a result of the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the AAU had no longer power over Olympic sports in the United States. A spin-off group, The Athletics Congress, held its first national track and field championships in 1980. The Athletics Congress was renamed USA Track & Field in 1993, and they have organized the annual championships ever since.[1]
Events
The following athletics events are currently featured on the national championships' program:
- Sprint: 100 m, 200 m, 400 m
- Middle distance track events: 800 m, 1500 m
- Long distance track events: 5000 m, 10,000 m
- Hurdles: 100 m hurdles, 110 m hurdles, 400 m hurdles, 3000 m steeplechase
- Jumps: long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault
- Throws: shot put, discus, hammer, javelin
- Combined events: heptathlon, decathlon
- Walks: 20 km walk (road) / 20000 m walk (track)
In earlier editions before 1974, running distances were often measured in yards. All races were in yards until 1928. From then on, races were measured in meters for Olympic years and yards for other years, except 1933 to 1951 inclusive and 1959. In the early years, the 220 yard hurdles were included for many years in lieu of the 440 yard hurdles. The 220 yard hurdles were first included 1887 through 1962. USATF website lists Past Outdoor Champions (all events) on the statistic section of their website.[2]
The cover page of the 1888 Program states "First Annual Championship Games Amateur Athletic Union of the United States".[3]
Editions
Split gender editions
Note that the track surface changed over these years. Synthetic tracks were used in the men's editions in 1963 (rubber), 1965, 1969, 1971, 1972 and from 1974 on. The tracks in the other years were cinders, sometimes with a mix of brick (1967, 1970 and 1973). 1923 was the First AAU Women’s National Championship.
Men only editions
NAAA National Championships (prior to AAU) 1879 to 1888
In 1888 there was both a NAAA and AAU Championships. Competitions were held at various athletic clubs grounds.
1888 Manhattan AC grounds, New York city Oct. 13, 1888
1887 Manhattan AC grounds, New York city Sept 17, 1887
1886-2 NYAC grounds, Mott Haven, NY Sept 18, 1886
1886-1 Staten Island AC grounds, West Brighton, Staten Island June 26, 1886
1885 Manhattan AC grounds, New York city June 13 or 18, 1885
1884 Williamsburg AC grounds, Brooklyn Sept 28, 1884
1883 NYAC grounds, Mott Haven, NY June 3, 1883
1882 Polo grounds, New York city June 10, 1882
1881 NYAC grounds, Mott Haven, NY Sept 24, 1881
1880 NYAC grounds, Mott Haven, NY Sept 25, 1880
Amateur National Championships (prior to NAAA) 1876 to 1879
In 1879 the meet doubled at the 1st AAU Championship.
1878 Mott Haven, NY Oct 12, 1878
1877 Mott Haven, NY Sept 8, 1877
1876 Mott Haven, NY Sept 30, 1876
The 1876 Amateur Championship included the following winners: Frederick C Saportas (100), Edward Merritt (440), Harold Lambe (Canadian) (880 and mile), George Hitchcock (120 hurdles), H Edwards Fickens (HJ), Isaiah Frazier (LJ), Harry Buermeyer (SP), William Buckingham Curtis(HT), and D M Stern & Charles Connor (Walks).[8]
Records
- Tyson Gay ran 9.75 at the 2013 Des Moines edition, but his performance was annulled after the race for doping.[10][11]
Most successful athletes
By event
See also
References
- The United States' National Championships In Track & Field Athletics: Introduction. Track and Field News. Retrieved on 2009-09-19.
- USATF Resources. Retrieved Oct. 23, 2020
- Detroit Historical Society. Retrieved Oct. 23, 2020
- "USA Track & Field - 2015 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene". Usatf.org. June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- "USA Track & Field - 2014 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Sacramento". Usatf.org. October 29, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
- https://articles.latimes.com/1988-06-17/sports/sp-5631_1_track-and-field-championships
- "Los Angeles Sports Council – L.A. Facilities". Lasports.org. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
- Archive. Retrieved Dec 16, 2020
- "USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Records". USATF. January 1, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- Kirby Lee (June 22, 2013). "World-leading wins from Gay, Gardner and Day at US Championships". IAAF. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- Nick Zaccardi (May 2, 2014). "Tyson Gay returns Olympic silver medal with doping ban". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- Gene Cherry (June 30, 2008). "Tyson Gay taking sprinting to new level says coach". Reuters. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
- "200m Dash Results". flashresults.com. June 28, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- Ed Gordon (July 1, 2012). "Marritt hurdles world-leading 12.93, Felix blazes 21.69 in Eugene – U.S. Olympic Trials, Day 7". IAAF. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- Kirby Lee (June 24, 2013). "World leads from Gay and Solomon highlight final day of US Championships". IAAF. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- Roy Jordan (July 11, 2016). "Records broken on final day of US Olympic Trials". IAAF. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- Roy Jordan (June 24, 2017). "Claye sails 17.91m in Sacramento - US Championships day 2". IAAF. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
- "Rupp wins trials 10K with meet-record 27:25.33, Tegenkamp and Ritzenhein also make US team". The Washington Post. June 22, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
- Kirby Lee (June 24, 2011). "Carter prevails in epic women's Shot Put battle in Eugene – USA champs, Day 1". IAAF. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
- "10000 Metres Results". www.flashresults.com. June 23, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
- Kirby Lee (June 23, 2013). "National records for Rollins, Carter and Bingson at US Championships". IAAF. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- Roy Jordan (July 29, 2019). "Muhammad breaks world 400m hurdles record at US Championships". IAAF. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
- "3000m Steeplechase Results". flashresults.com. June 28, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- "3000m Steeplechase Result". flashresults.com. June 27, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- "High Jump Results". www.flashresults.com. June 26, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
- "High Jump Results". flashresults.com. June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
- Parker Morse (June 27, 2010). "Lowe jumps 2.05m, wins over Iowa: USATF Nationals Day 3". IAAF. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- Roy Jordan (July 28, 2019). "Kendricks tops 6.06m in Des Moines". IAAF. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- USA Outdoor Track & Field Champions Women's Pole Vault Archived 2009-12-09 at the Wayback Machine. USATF. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
- Roy Jordan (July 3, 2016). "Reese's big leap highlights early action at US Olympic Trials". IAAF. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
- Roy Jordan (June 23, 2018). "Lyles clocks 9.88 world lead to take US 100m title". IAAF. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- Roy Jordan (June 25, 2017). "Muhammad wins historic 400m hurdles race at US Championships". IAAF. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- USA Outdoor Track & Field Champions Men's Javelin Throw Archived 2012-09-18 at the Wayback Machine. USATF. Retrieved on 2009-09-28.
- Parker Morse (June 26, 2010). "Patterson, Felix steal the show: USATF Nationals, Day 1 & 2". IAAF. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- "Decathlon Results". USATF. June 23, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
- "USA Outdoor Track & Field Champions Women's 20 km Race Walk". USATF. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- Champions
External links
- Official website from USATF
- A brief history of the US national championship from Track & Field News
- Past results from Track & Field News
- Past Champions from USATF
- Past Locations of Championships (Back pages of USATF Outdoor Champions PDF).