The results of the event determined qualification for the American Olympic team at the 2020 Summer Olympics, to be held in Tokyo. Provided they had achieved the Olympic standard or are in the World Athletics ranking quota, the top three athletes in each event gained a place on the Olympic team. In the event that a leading athlete did not hold the standard, or an athlete withdrew, the next highest finishing athlete with the standard was selected instead. USA Track and Field announced their Olympic roster based on these guidelines on July 6, 2021.[8]
Key: ≠ Athlete without Olympic qualifying standard, not selected Athlete without Olympic qualifying standard, invited to Olympics based on world list position
bBrianna McNeal originally finished second in a time of 12.51, but she was suspended for five years for an anti-doping rule violation (missed tests). While she was allowed to compete at the trials pending appeal, her suspension was later upheld.[14][15]
c Neither McPherson nor Greene achieved the Olympic standard or a qualifying world ranking. In addition to Cunningham, USATF selected fourth-placed Rachel McCoy who previously achieved the Olympic standard, and Tynita Butts, who did not reach the finals but held a qualifying ranking of #21.[8]
d Hazlewood had not achieved the Olympic standard or a qualifying world ranking. Fourth place Kelsey Card, who had a qualifying ranking of #23, was instead selected.[8]
e Allgood-Whetstone had not achieved the Olympic standard or a qualifying world ranking. Fourth place Ariana Ince, who had a qualifying ranking of #16, was instead selected.[8]
USA Track & Field sets minimum performances standards for entry into the national championships. In order to merit entry into the championships, an athlete must meet that standard, or better, within a set time frame prior to the competition.
All qualifying performances for the U.S. Olympic trials must be attained on a standard outdoor track in the period
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 through Sunday, June 6, 2021,
or on an indoor track, in the same event, in the period
Wednesday, January 1, 2020 through Sunday, June 6, 2021;
except for the 10,000 meters, Decathlon & Heptathlon and 20 km Race Walks, whose qualifying period is from
Tuesday, January 1, 2019 through Sunday, June 6, 2021.
The qualifying performance for the men's 50 km Race walk must be attained in the period
Monday January 1, 2018 through Sunday, January 12, 2020.
There are also automatic qualifying criteria outside of the entry standards. Athletes who are the reigning indoor or outdoor national champion are automatically qualified to enter that event.
Qualifying marks must be attained in a 2020 U.S. Olympic trials event. No qualifying marks will be allowed using alternate events, except for the men's Mile run as follows: An appeal to use a Mile qualifying mark for the 1500 will be accepted only if the mile mark was made during the 2020 season, from Wednesday, January 1, 2020 through Sunday, June 6, 2021, and the mark is 3:54.00 or better.[18]
For events over distances from 100 m to 800 m, performances will only be accepted if fully automatic timing (FAT) is used. For performances beyond that distance, FAT times are also used, but in the event that the athlete has not recorded a FAT performance, a manually recorded time may be used. There will be no adjustment for marks made at altitude. Wind-assisted performances will not be accepted for 2020 U.S. Olympic trials qualifying.
