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Back to 2026 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships

Eligibility & Entry information

  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Entry Process
  • Relay Entries

Eligibility Requirements

General

All eligible members of USATF and eligible members of other World Masters Athletics (WMA) Masters Affiliates may compete in these Championships.

Qualifying Standards

There are no qualifying standards for this competition. 

Age Divisions

Athletes must be 25 years or older on July 16, 2026. Individual and relay competitions will be conducted in five-year age divisions. Please note that this is a masters meet following masters, not open, rules. i.e.,  the hurdles for men 25-49 will be 39 inches (Open Men use 42 inches).

USATF Membership

All athletes must be 2026 members of USATF (or other WMA Masters Affiliate) in good standing. USATF memberships may be purchased online. Non-U.S. citizens must be eligible members of their nation’s World Masters Athletics Member. 

Club Scoring & Athlete Representation

All clubs must be 2026 USATF member organizations to score team points and athletes must have that club listed in their USATF profile prior to the close of registration for these Championships. Find your local association here. 

Relays

Club and non-club relay teams shall be separate divisions. USATF Competition Rule 332.2(g) details the definitions for both club and non-club relay teams. Only U.S. citizens and athletes eligible to compete for the USA in international competitions may compete as members of club relay teams. The age of the relay team is the age of the youngest athlete on the relay form AND an athlete from that age group must compete. The mixed 4x400 relay is an exhibition event and will not count towards team scoring.  WMA rules will be followed. One male and one female must be in the age category of the entry and at least one male and one female in that age group must compete. The order is male-female-male-female.

Proof of Birth

Proof of date of birth will be required from all competitors in advance. Detailed instructions on how to submit DOB documents to your USATF Connect account can be found here.

  • USATF also recommends athletes bring a copy of their proof-of-age document to packet pick-up as a back-up measure.

Entry Process

  • Member athletes in good standing of USATF or of other WMA recognized Masters affiliates are eligible to compete. Athletes who are not eligible to compete for the USA in international competitions cannot displace U.S. Citizens or athletes eligible to compete for the USA in international competitions and cannot score team points. At least 2/3 of the athletes who advance to finals must be athletes who are either U.S. Citizens or who are eligible to compete for the USA in international competitions as determined by WMA.
  • A 2026 USATF membership is required for U.S. Citizens or athletes eligible to compete for the USA in international competitions to enter online (please join online if you are not a member). Athletes who are not eligible to compete for the USA in international competitions must present evidence that they are members in good standing of their appropriate WMA Masters Member. Letters attesting to their status should be addressed to Robert Thomas, Chair, USATF Masters Track & Field Committee at mtfchair@usatf.org.
  • To enter online without an entry mark, put NT or NM in the Mark box during the entry process.
  • A Help Line is available for those athletes who need assistance with the entry process. For assistance, call the USATF National Office at 317-261-0500 during normal business hours, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm ET Monday – Friday.

Important Information

  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Membership Application

Entry Fees and Deadlines

Date Received Individual Events Relay
Online Entry
on-time: on or before 6/16/26 at 11:59 p.m.PT 1st event: $65
2nd event: $41
Each additional event: $20
 
late: on or before 6/23/26 at 11:59 p.m.PT above fees, plus $60 per athlete n/a
On-site n/a $80

All fees are non-transferable and non-refundable. No entry will be considered completed unless it is accompanied by full payment of fees and all required documents (see below).

Entry Form

  • Online Individual Entry
  • Information about Relay Entries

Online entries must be paid for by credit card or debit card. 

 Other Required Documents

  • Verification of Age (a copy of your birth certificate or passport)
  • After completing your entry, if the status of entry page indicates “info needed,” please upload a copy of your birth certificate or passport on your USATF Connect account. See Proof of Birth section above

Entry Status

To check the status of your entry, visit the status of entries page (statuses are updated hourly). ALL entries received are posted on the Status of Entries page.

Athletes will not be considered entered into the meet until ALL required documents have been received. Athletes missing required documents (usually date of birth verification) will be listed as “info needed” on the Status of Entries page on the USATF website until all such documents are received.

Friends of the National Masters Championships Contribution

Help ensure the high quality of the Championships with a “Friends of the National Masters Championships” donation. Please consider one of the following:

  • Platinum Level - $250+
  • Gold Level - $100
  • Silver Level - $50
  • Bronze Level - $25
  • Other - Amount of choice

Relay Entries

Relay team entries will open on Wednesday, July 15, at 2:00 pm. Relay entry forms will be available at (and must be returned to) Packet Pickup. Relay teams may only enter on-site; however, each member of a relay team must also be entered in the meet as an individual. The normal entry process applies to each team member, including the deadlines. The age of the relay team is the age of the youngest athlete on the relay form AND an athlete from that age group must compete.

All relay teams must return their relay forms to the Relay Desk in the Packet Pickup area.

  • 4x800m Relay - 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 16
  • 4x100m Relay - 12:00 p.m. Thursday, July 16
  • Exhibition Mixed 4x400m Relay - 12:00 p.m. Friday, July 17
  • 4x400 Relay - 12:00 p.m. Saturday, July 18

The fee for relay team entries is $60 per team, payable by credit card only.  Relay entries will close as indicated above.

Athletes must be entered in the meet to compete on a relay team.  Athletes who will only be entered in a relay must register online and select the “Relay Only” event.

  1. Each member of the team must be registered for the Championship in either an individual event OR a Relay Only event. Note: the “Relay Only” event should NOT be selected if you are competing in an individual event.  You should select this if you are only competing in a relay.
  2. If proof of age (copy of birth certificate or passport) is not on file with USATF; please follow the necessary steps to have this verified.
  3. All entries, including relay only entries, must be received by the deadline. The on-time deadline is June 16, 2026. The late entry deadline is June 23, 2026 and requires an additional payment of $60 per individual.

If an individual will be joining others to form a team and is not competing in any other events, the process described above still applies.

All members of a club relay teams must have that club listed in their USATF profile and be U.S. citizens or eligible to compete for the USA in international competitions.

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