USATF YOUTH

Developmental Meets
See this page for more information about our developmental meets.

USATF Youth Age Group Divisions
The athlete will participate in the age group determined by the athlete’s age as of December 31 of the current year.  See the USATF web site for the youth age group divisions.

Cross Country
USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country Competition
Competition in this series of events (which begin in October and last through December) require an age-verified USATF membership.  There are strict deadlines for competing in these meets.

Athletes begin the Junior Olympic series with the OR Association championship meet and advance based on performance.

• USATF Oregon Association Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships
• USATF Region 13 Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships
• USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships

Our program is designed to introduce kids to cross country running by providing an experience that is fun, competitive, social, and informative about the sport.

Cross country is a fall/winter sport, with our youth practices starting each year in September.

The athlete will participate in the age group determined by the athlete’s age as of December 31.

Cross country races are trail runs across several types of terrain at distances of:

• 2K (1.24 miles) for athletes 8 years old and under
• 3K (1.86 miles) for athletes 9 through 12 years old
• 4K (2.49 miles) for athletes 13 and 14 years old
• 5K (3.11 miles) for 15+ years old

Cross country meets are a team event.  Points are awarded to the individual runners of eligible teams equal to the position in which they cross the finish line -- first place gets 1 point, second place gets 2 points, and so on. Teams are considered ineligible to score if they have fewer than the meet's required number of scorers, which is typically five. Only the first five finishers for a team are counted towards that team's score; the points for these runners are summed, and the teams are ranked based on the total, with the lowest total being the best.

Cross Country Qualifying Procedures
Rule 305.3.c

• All members of the same club listed on the team declaration roster at the Association finals are eligible to compete on the club's team (minimum of 5, maximum of 8) in the next round of Qualifications up to and including the National Championships as long as the team qualifies.
• In order to declare a team, a club must enter a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 8 athletes by the entry deadline.
• The composition of the team at each round can change if you submit a change form at the registration at packet pickup at least 2 hours prior to the race and any athlete changed must be listed on the declaration roster.

Track & Field
USATF Junior Olympic Outdoor Track & Field Competition
Competition in this series of events (which begin in June and last through July) require an age-verified USATF membership.  There are strict deadlines for competing in these meets.

Athletes begin the Junior Olympic series with the Oregon Association meet and advance based on performance.

• USATF Oregon Association Junior Olympic Outdoor Track & Field Championships
• USATF Region 13 Junior Olympic Outdoor Track & Field Championships
• USATF National Junior Olympic Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Below is a list of all events in the USATF Junior Olympic Track & Field age group divisions.

Competitors must compete in their own divisions only.  No athlete may compete in younger or older divisions in individual, relay, or team events.

In track and field, a competitor in the 12 years old & under age divisions may enter a maximum of three events.  Competitors in the 13+ years old age divisions may enter a maximum of four events.  These limitations include relays, but not combined events or road races. Entry in a relay, either as a primary or an alternate member, will be considered an entry for the purpose of this rule.

Combine Events (age 9 and up): JO Standards

8 years old & under

• 100 Meter Dash
• 200 Meter Dash
• 400 Meter Dash
• 800 Meter Run
• 1500 Meter Run
• Long Jump
• Shot Put (6 lb)
• 4x100 Meter Relay
• Mini-Javelin (300 gram)
• 4x400 Meter Relay

9 - 10 years old

• 100 Meter Dash
• 200 Meter Dash
• 400 Meter Dash
• 800 Meter Run
• 1500 Meter Run
• 1500 Meter Racewalk
• Long Jump
• Mini-Javelin (300 gram)
• Shot Put (6 lb)
• High Jump
• 4x100 Meter Relay
• 4x400 Meter Relay
• Triathlon: Shot Put, High Jump, 200(Girls) / 400(Boys) Meter Dash

11 - 12 years old

• 100 Meter Dash
• 200 Meter Dash
• 400 Meter Dash
• 800 Meter Run
• 1500 Meter Run
• 1500 Meter Racewalk
• 3000 Meter Run
• 80 Meter Hurdles (30")
• Long Jump
• High Jump
• Mini-Javelin (300g)
• Shot Put (6lb)
• Discus (1kg)
• 4x100 Meter Relay
• 4x400 Meter Relay
• 4x800 Meter Relay
• Pentathlon: 80 Meter Hurdles, Shot Put, High Jump, Long Jump, 800(Girls)/1500(Boys) Meter Run

13 - 14 years old

• 100 Meter Dash
• 200 Meter Dash
• 400 Meter Dash
• 800 Meter Run
• 1500 Meter Run
• 3000 Meter Run
• 3000 Meter Racewalk
• 200 Meter Hurdles (30")
• 100 Meter Hurdles (Girls 30", Boys 33")
• Discus (1 kg)
• High Jump
• Long Jump
• Javelin (600 gram)
• Pole Vault
• Shot Put (Boys 4 kg, Girls 6 lb)
• Triple Jump
• 4x100 Meter Relay
• 4x400 Meter Relay
• 4x800 Meter Relay
• Pentathlon: 100 Meter Hurdles, Shot Put, High Jump, Long Jump, 800(Girls)/1500(Boys) Meter Run

15 - 18 years old

• 100 Meter Dash
• 200 Meter Dash
• 400 Meter Dash
• 800 Meter Run
• 1500 Meter Run
• 3000 Meter Run (15-16 Girls/Boys, 17-18 Girls)
• 5000 Meter Run (17-18 Boys)
• 3000 Meter Racewalk
• 2000 Meter Steeplechase (Girls 30", Boys 36")
• 100/110 Meter Hurdles (Girls 33", Boys 39")
• 400 Meter Hurdles (Girls 30", Boys 36")
• High Jump
• Long Jump
• Triple Jump
• Javelin (Girls 600 gram, Boys 800 gram)
• Discus (Girls 1 kg, Boys 1.6 kg)
• Hammer Throw (Girls 4 kg, Boys 12 lb)
• Shot Put (Girls 4 kg, Boys 12 lb)
• 4x100 Meter Relay
• 4x400 Meter Relay
• 4x800 Meter Relay
• Heptathlon (15-16 Girls, 17-18 Girls)
  • First Day: 100 Meter Hurdles, High Jump, Shot Put, 200 Meters
  • Second Day: Long Jump, Javelin, 800 Meters
• Decathlon (15-16 Boys, 17-18 Boys)
  • First Day: 100 Meters, Long Jump, Shot put, High Jump, 400 Meters
  • Second Day: 110 Meters Hurdles, Discus Throw, Pole Vault, Javelin Throw, 1500 Meters

USATF Regions and the Associations that comprise the Region

1. Adirondack, Connecticut, Long Island, Maine, Metropolitan, and New England 
2. Mid-Atlantic, New Jersey, Niagara, and Three Rivers
3. North Carolina, Potomac Valley and Virginia
4. Florida, Georgia and South Carolina
5. Kentucky, Lake Erie, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia 
6. Alabama, Southern, and Tennessee
7. Illinois and Indiana
8. Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin
9. Arkansas, Missouri Valley, Oklahoma, and Ozark
10. Arizona, Border, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah
11. Montana, Snake River, and Wyoming
12. Gulf, South Texas, Southwestern, and West Texas
13. Alaska, Inland Northwest, Oregon, and Pacific Northwest
14. Central California, Hawaii, and Pacific
15. Nevada, San Diego Imperial, and Southern California 
16. National Junior Olympics Championship Host Association, the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DODDS) Europe and Pacific