World Athletics has officially released the qualification framework for the athletics programme at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, detailing entry standards, qualification windows, and quota allocations for athletes worldwide. The system, approved by the World Athletics Council, will govern competition across 48 events scheduled from 15 July to 30 July 2028.

How the Two-Way System Works

Under the approved framework, 40 per cent of available places will be allocated through entry standards, while the remaining 60 per cent will be distributed via world rankings. Crucially, meeting an entry standard does not automatically secure an Olympic berth. If more athletes achieve the required mark than the quota allows in a given event, only those with the best performances during the qualification period will advance — with no additional places filled through world rankings in such cases.

Events and Qualification Windows

The athletics programme will feature 48 events, comprising 23 men's and 23 women's competitions alongside two mixed events. Notably, the mixed 4x100m relay will make its Olympic debut at LA28, joining the already-established mixed 4x400m relay.

Qualification windows differ by discipline. The marathon window opens on 1 November 2026 and closes on 30 April 2028. The 10,000m, combined events, race walks, and relays will have a window running from 19 December 2026 to 18 June 2028. All other track and field events will operate within a tighter window from 19 June 2027 to 18 June 2028.

Key Entry Standards

Among the headline marks, the men's 100m standard is set at 9.93 seconds and the women's 100m at 10.96 seconds. The men's 200m and women's 200m standards are 19.95 and 22.25 seconds, respectively. Distance runners face demanding targets too — the men's marathon standard is 2:05:00, while women must achieve 2:22:20.

Special Rules for Road Races and Relays

Dedicated qualification pathways exist for road events and relays. The top 56 athletes on the filtered marathon qualification list as of 19 March 2028 will be deemed qualified. The first 12 finishers in the half marathon race walk events at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in China on 9 April 2028 will earn automatic qualification.

For relay teams, the first 14 national Olympic committees at the World Athletics Relays in The Bahamas on 22 and 23 April 2028 will secure Olympic spots. Teams that miss out on day one will receive a second qualification opportunity on day two — a provision designed to reduce single-day elimination risk.

What This Means for Indian Athletics

This comes amid growing ambition in Indian track and field, with several athletes targeting international standards following recent national record improvements. The extended marathon window — running nearly 18 months — gives Indian long-distance runners substantial opportunity to meet the standard across multiple major races. The world rankings pathway also offers a secondary route for athletes who narrowly miss the entry mark. With LA28 still nearly two years away, national federations will now begin structuring their competition calendars around the prescribed windows.