2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials Remain On Schedule – runnersworld.com

• The 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials are scheduled to run as planned from June 19 to 28 in Eugene, Oregon.
• Because of mass meet cancellations due to coronavirus, athletes who haven’t yet clocked an Olympic standard time will have a limited time to do so before the qualifying window closes on June 29.

Over the past month, dozens of races around the globe—from local 5Ks to major marathons and championship meets—have been postponed or canceled outright due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. But with the 2020 Olympic Games still scheduled for July 24 through August 9 in Tokyo, the question remains as to whether or not the virus will affect Olympic qualifying races.

As of now, the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials are scheduled as planned for June 19 to 28 in Eugene, Oregon, according to a statement released by Tracktown USA CEO Michael Reilly on March 13. But competing in the Trials is only part of athletes’ journey to Tokyo.

In order to compete in the Games, all runners must hit the Olympic qualifying standards in their respective events by June 29. While there’s a chance that runners can clock time standards at the Trials, those races tend to focus on finishing place, not time. So even if runners place in the top three in their events, if they haven’t run an Olympic qualifying time, they are not allowed to compete in Tokyo.

Typically, runners try to score a qualifying time before Trials, in order to avoid the heartbreak of making the Olympic team but not being able to race in the championship. In 2012, Natosha Rogers faced that dreaded scenario when she finished as the runner-up in the 10,000 meters at the Trials but was 14 seconds shy of the Olympic standard, which prohibited her from competing in the London Olympics.

Runners who haven’t yet clocked an Olympic standard will likely face difficulties doing so this spring and summer, since many competitive track meets have already been cancelled due to concerns over coronavirus.

Last week, the NCAA Indoor Championships was canceled along with the Stanford Invitational in April, which usually attracts elites seeking fast times in distance events, such as Molly Huddle, who won the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the 2016 Trials, and Emily Sisson, who clocked the third-fastest U.S. 10,000-meter time in history at last year’s race. The Prefontaine Classic is still scheduled to run in Eugene on June 6 and 7, but it has currently suspended ticket sales, according to The Oregonian.

Despite the sudden upheaval of race plans with less than 100 days to go until the Olympics, pro runners have maintained a positive outlook on social media.

“Dreaming big dreams and of the many races ahead,” said Sisson, who is planning to compete in the 10,000 meters this year at Trials, on Instagram. “I know our race schedules are really up in the air at the minute. But stay calm, wash your hands, and help others.”

“Working hard, staying calm, only focusing on controlling what I can,” said Emma Coburn, who won bronze in the 2016 Olympic steeplechase, on Instagram. “I’ll be ready whenever we get to race.”

Digital Editor Hailey first got hooked on running news as an intern with Running Times, and now she reports on elite runners and cyclists, feel-good stories, and training pieces for Runner’s World and Bicycling magazines.