USA Track & Field

USA Track & Field
Name	USA Track & Field
Founded	1979
Headquarters	Indianapolis

USA Track & Field. It is the national governing body for the sports of track and field, cross country running, and road running in the United States. The organization is responsible for selecting and fielding U.S. teams for international competitions, including the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships. It also oversees the sport's development from youth levels through elite professional competition, sanctioning thousands of events annually across the country.

History

The organization traces its lineage to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), which governed the sport for much of the 20th century. Following significant administrative disputes and the passage of the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, which mandated separate governing bodies for each Olympic sport, the organization was incorporated in 1979 as The Athletics Congress (TAC). It assumed governance from the AAU and was later renamed in 1992. Key historical moments include overseeing the highly successful U.S. team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and navigating the professionalization of the sport in the post-amateur era. The organization has been headquartered in Indianapolis since 1990, operating from the Indiana Sports Corp complex.

Governance and organization

The organization is led by a Board of Directors and a professional staff headed by a Chief Executive Officer. It is a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the global federation, World Athletics. Governance is structured around numerous sport-specific and administrative committees, including those for Anti-Doping, Law and Legislation, and High Performance. The organization also works in conjunction with its charitable arm, the USA Track & Field Foundation, which supports elite athlete development and grassroots programs. Regional associations across the country, such as the Pacific Association and the New York Road Runners, help administer the sport at a local level.

Competitions and events

It sanctions and organizes a vast calendar of events, culminating in the annual USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which serve as the primary selection meet for major international teams. Other premier domestic competitions include the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, the USATF Cross Country Championships, and the Millrose Games. The organization also oversees the USATF Grand Prix circuit, the USATF Championships in Athletics, and numerous road races like the AJC Peachtree Road Race. It sanctions youth championships through the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships and masters events via the USATF Masters Championships.

National teams and international representation

The organization is responsible for selecting, funding, and managing teams that represent the United States at global competitions. This includes teams for the Olympic Games, the World Athletics Championships, the World Athletics Relays, the Pan American Games, and the NACAC Championships. Team selection is typically based on performances at designated national championship events. The organization's High Performance division works with coaches and athletes, including those at training centers like the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, to prepare for international success against rivals such as Jamaica, Kenya, and Great Britain.

Programs and development initiatives

A core mission is developing the sport at all levels. Key youth programs include the USATF Junior Olympic Program and the USATF Youth Athletics series. The USATF Coaching Education program certifies coaches nationwide. For elite development, initiatives like the USATF Elite Athlete Program and support from the USA Track & Field Foundation provide resources for post-collegiate athletes. The organization also runs community-based programs such as the USATF Run Jump Throw program for children and supports Paralympic athletics through partnerships with the U.S. Paralympics division of the USOPC.

Notable athletes and records

The organization has overseen the careers of countless legendary American athletes. Iconic figures include Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michael Johnson, Allyson Felix, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. It recognizes and ratifies American records at various levels, from high school marks to senior national records. Athletes under its governance have set numerous world records at events like the Prefontaine Classic and have won hundreds of Olympic medals, contributing to the legacy of teams at games from Berlin 1936 to Tokyo 2020. The organization also maintains the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in Eugene, Oregon.

Category:Sports governing bodies in the United States Category:Track and field organizations Category:Organizations based in Indianapolis