Para Qualifying Standards & Information

Athlete Eligibility for Entry into Selection Event

At the time of athlete registration an athlete must meet the following criteria:

1. Hold a current WPA athlete license;
2. Hold a current USATF athlete membership;
3. Be classified with a national classification status of NN, NR, NC or NP*;
4. Have achieved a National Championships minimum entry standard (MES) in at least one event on the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games medal program in the athlete’s classification.

*Athletes with an NP, NN with a review date 2026 or earlier, or NR classification status will be required to go through national classification July 22, 2026.

Athletes must achieve a National Championships Entry Standard in at least one entered event at a World Para Athletics (WPA) recognized competition between 1 January 2024 and 13 July 2026 to be considered for automatic entry into National Championships.

Athletes may enter additional events if the additional event entry standard for that event has been met.

Entry Exemptions

Athletes requesting entry exceptions for Nationals Entry Standards, or Additional Event Entry Standards will be considered case-by-case and must be approved in advance. Exemptions can be considered based on an Athlete’s proximity to their entry standard, their position in the WPA World Rankings, past National Championships performances, current event field size, etc. Exemptions are granted solely on a discretionary basis by USATF Para staff and athlete representatives.

To request an entry exception, athletes must complete the Para Nationals Entry Exemption application no later than 13 July 2026. Applications should include why the athletes believe their exemption should be granted, and include any relevant competition results for consideration.

The Entry Exemption application can be found at the following link: https://www.usatf.org/events/2026/2026-toyota-usatf-outdoor-para-national-championsh

• Nationals entry standards obtained at a non-WPA recognized competition between 1 January 2024 and 13 July 2026 may be approved by Director on a case-by-case basis.
• Athletes who have not obtained a Nationals Entry Standard in any event within the eligibility window can apply for an exemption to be accepted into National Championships.

Men's Standards

Women's Standards

Entry into World Championships Only Events

The below events are not on the LA28 Paralympic Games Medal Program, however, are typically contested at World Para Athletics Championships. Since there are no Senior World Championships in 2026, athletes cannot enter the events below without also entering an event on the LA28 Program. Athletes are eligible to compete in the below events at National Championships if they have met the following criteria:

1. They have already entered and been accepted into an LA28 event by obtaining the Nationals Entry Standard.
2. Have obtained the Additional Event Entry Standard in the World's only event.

Men's World's Only Events

Women's World's Only Events