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 the year 1992, in the years which feature a Summer Olympics, World Athletics Championships, Pan American Games, NACAC 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:![]() | |
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Sport | Track and field |
---|---|
Founded | 1980 (USATF) 1876 (NYAC) |
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 Sports Act of 1978, the AAU no longer had 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]
2020 Olympic Trials Held 2021
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and the TrackTown USA Local Organizing Committee announced the release of the updated competition schedule for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field, that will take place June 18-27, 2021, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.[2]
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.[3]
The cover page of the 1888 Program states "First Annual Championship Games Amateur Athletic Union of the United States".[4]
Editions
![Thumb](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Haywardspectators.jpg/320px-Haywardspectators.jpg)
Split gender editions
Edition | Men's Venue | Stadium | Date | Women's Venue | Stadium | Date | Events |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1975 | Eugene, Oregon | Hayward Field, University of Oregon | June 25–27, 1975 | White Plains, New York | Glen Loucks Memorial Stadium | June 27-28, 1975 | 14 + NY Mar. |
1974 | Westwood, Los Angeles, California | Drake Stadium UCLA | June 21–23, 1974 | Bakersfield, California | Memorial Stadium | June 28-29, 1974 | 15 |
1973 | Bakersfield, California | Memorial Stadium | June 15–17, 1973 | Irvine, California | Anteater Stadium | June 22- 23, 1973 | 14 |
1972 | Seattle, Washington | Husky Stadium | June 16–18, 1972 | Canton, Ohio | Citizens Field | July 1-2, 1972 | 13 |
1971 | Eugene, Oregon | Hayward Field, University of Oregon | June 25–27, 1971 | Bakersfield, California | Memorial Stadium | July 9-10, 1971 | 13 |
1970 | Bakersfield, California | Memorial Stadium | June 26–28, 1970 | Westwood, Los Angeles, California | Drake Stadium UCLA | July 3-4, 1970 | 13 |
1969 | Miami, Florida | Miami Dade College North Stadium | June 27–29, 1969 | Dayton, Ohio | Welcome Stadium | July 5-6, 1969 | 12 |
1968 | Sacramento, California | Charles C. Hughes Stadium, Sacramento City College | June 19–21, 1968 | Aurora, Colorado | Aurora Public School Stadium | August 14–18, 1968 | 12 |
1967 | Bakersfield, California | Memorial Stadium | June 22–23, 1967 | Santa Barbara, California | La Playa Stadium | July 1–2, 1967 | 12 |
1966 | New York City | Downing Stadium | June 25–26, 1966 | Frederick, Maryland | Thomas Johnson High School | July 1-2, 1966 | 12 |
1965 | San Diego, California | Balboa Stadium | June 26–27, 1965 | Columbus, Ohio | Whetstone High School | July 1-3, 1965 | 12 |
1964 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Rutgers Stadium | June 26–28, 1964 | Hanford, California | Neighbor Field | July 9-11, 1964 | 11 |
1963 | St. Louis, Missouri | Public School Stadium | June 21–22, 1963 | Dayton, Ohio | Welcome Stadium | July 4-6, 1963 | 11 |
1962 | Walnut, California | Mt. San Antonio College, Hilmer Lodge Stadium | June 22–23, 1962 | Los Angeles | Memorial Coliseum | July 7-8, 1962 | 11 |
1961 | New York City | Downing Stadium | June 23–24, 1961 | Gary, Indiana | Gilroy Field | July 1-2, 1961 | 11 |
1960 | Bakersfield, California | Memorial Stadium | June 24–25, 1960 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Buccaneer Stadium | July 8-9, 1960 | 11 |
1959 | Boulder, Colorado | Folsom Field | June 19–20, 1959 | Cleveland, Ohio | John Adams Field | June 27- 28, 1959 | 12 |
1958 | Bakersfield, California | Memorial Stadium | June 20–21, 1958 | Morristown, New Jersey | Memorial Field | July 4-5, 1958 | 11 |
1957 | Dayton, Ohio | Welcome Stadium | June 21–22, 1957 | Shaker Heights, Ohio | Shaker Heights High School Field | August 9- 10, 1957 | 10 |
1956 | Bakersfield, California | Memorial Stadium | June 22–23, June | Philadelphia | Franklin Field | August 17-18, 1956 | 10 |
1955 | Boulder, Colorado | Folsom Field | June 24–25, 1955 | Ponca City, Oklahoma | Blaine Stadium | June 17-18, 1955 | 10 |
1954 | St. Louis, Missouri | Public Schools Stadium | June 18–19, 1954 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | July 30- 31, 1954 | 10 | |
1953 | Dayton, Ohio | Welcome Stadium | June 26–27, 1953 | San Antonio, Texas | Alamo Heights Stadium | July 24-25, 1953 | 10 |
1952 | Long Beach, California | Veterans Memorial Stadium | June 20–21, 1953 | Waterbury, Connecticut | Municipal Stadium | June 29, 1952 | 10 |
1951 | Berkeley, California | Edwards Stadium | June 22–23, 1951 | Waterbury, Connecticut | Municipal Stadium | August 12, 1951 | 10 |
1950 | College Park, Maryland | Byrd Stadium | June 23–24, 1950 | Freeport, Texas | Hopper Field | August 25- 26, 1950 | 10 |
1949 | Fresno, California | Ratcliffe Stadium | June 24–25, 1949 | Odessa, Texas | Broncho Stadium | August 12-13, 1949 | 9 |
1948 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Marquette Stadium | July 2–3, 1948 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Houseman Field | July 6, 1948 | 9 |
1947 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Memorial Stadium (Lincoln) | July 3–4, 1947 | San Antonio, Texas | Alamo Stadium | June 28-29,1947 | 9 |
1946 | San Antonio, Texas | Alamo Stadium | June 28–29, 1946 | Buffalo, New York | All- High Stadium | August 4, 1946 | 9 |
1945 | New York City | Downing Stadium | June 29–30, 1945 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Fager Field | June 30, 1945 | |
1944 | New York City | Downing Stadium | June 17–18, 1944 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Fager Field | July 8, 1944 | |
1943 | New York City | Downing Stadium | June 19–20, 1943 | Lakewood, Ohio | Lakewood High School | August 15, 1943 | |
1942 | New York City | Downing Stadium | June 19–20, 1942 | Ocean City, New Jersey | Carey Stadium | July 4, 1942 | |
1941 | Philadelphia | Franklin Field | June 24–25, 1941 | Ocean City, New Jersey | Carey Stadium | July 5, 1941 | |
1940 | Fresno, California | Ratcliffe Stadium | June 28–29, 1940 | Ocean City, New Jersey | Carey Stadium | July 7, 1940 | |
1939 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Memorial Stadium (Lincoln) | July 3–4, 1939 | Waterbury, Connecticut | Municipal Stadium | September 4, 1939 | |
1938 | Buffalo, New York | Civic Stadium | July 2–3, 1938 | Naugatuck, Connecticut | Recreation Field | August 4, 1938 | |
1937 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Marquette Stadium | July 2–3, 1937 | Trenton, New Jersey | Trenton High School | September 25, 1937 | |
1936 | Princeton, New Jersey | Palmer Stadium | July 3–4, 1936 | Providence, Rhode Island | Brown University Field | July 4, 1936 | |
1935 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Memorial Stadium (Lincoln) | July 3–4, 1935 | New York, New York | Ohio Field | September 14, 1935 | |
1934 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Marquette Stadium | June 29–30, 1934 | not held | |||
1933 | Chicago, Illinois | Soldier Field | June 30-July 1, 1933 | Chicago, Illinois | Soldier Field | June 30, 1933 | |
1932 | Palo Alto, California | Stanford Stadium | July 15–16, 1932 | Evanston, Illinois | Dyche Stadium | July 16- 17, 1932 | |
1931 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Memorial Stadium (Lincoln) | July 3–4, 1931 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Pershing Field | July 25, 1931 | |
1930 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Pitt Stadium | August 22–25, 1930 | Dallas, Texas | Ownby Stadium | July 4, 1930 | |
1929 | Denver, Colorado | DU Stadium | July 3–5, 1929 | Chicago, Illinois | Soldier Field | July 27, 1929 | |
1928 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Cambridge, Massachusetts | Franklin Field Harvard Stadium | July 3–5, 1928 July 6–7, 1928 | Newark, New Jersey | City Field | July 4, 1928 | |
1927 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Memorial Stadium (Lincoln) | July 2–4, 1927 | Eureka, California | Allbee Stadium | September 3, 1927 | |
1926 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Municipal Stadium | July 2, 5-6, 1926 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Municipal Stadium | July 9–10, 1926 | |
1925 | San Francisco, California | Kezar Stadium | July 2–4, 1925 | Pasadena, California | Paddock Field | July 11, 1925 | |
1924 | West Orange, New Jersey | Colgate Field, Newark Athletic Country Club | September 5–7, 1924 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Forbes Field | September 20, 1924 | |
1923 | Chicago, Illinois | Stagg Field | Sept 1, 1923 | Newark, New Jersey | Weequahic Park | September 29, 1923 |
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).[9]
Records
- Tyson Gay ran 9.75 at the 2013 Des Moines edition, but his performance was annulled after the race for doping.[11][12]
Most successful athletes
By event
See also
References
External links
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