The men's competition was held as a separate event from the 1936 United States Olympic trials, but the women's event doubled as the Olympic trials for Olympic disciplines. At the men's championships, George Varoff set a world record in the pole vault.[1] In the women's competition, Helen Stephens won the 100 m, shot put, and discus throw, but could not contest the shot put at the Olympics as it wasn't part of the programme.[2]