WORLD ATHLETICS SUSPENDS OLYMPIC QUALIFYING THROUGH NOVEMBER 30
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2020 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

(07-Apr) -- World Athletics, the global governing body for athletics and road running, announced a suspension today of 2020 Olympic Games qualifying through the end of November for all disciplines due to the COVID19 pandemic.  However, qualifying marks already achieved for the Games, now postponed until the summer of 2021, remain valid.

In addition, no marks achieved from April 6 through November 30 this year would count towards the World Athletics points ranking system for athletes, also a factor in Olympic qualification for athletes who do not achieve qualifying marks outright.  World Athletics also suspended their athlete ranking system until December.

The move was designed to relieve the pressure on athletes who have no idea when, or even if, their 2020 seasons will begin due to the pandemic.

"The modified Tokyo qualifying window drastically changes the game," commented distance coach Drew Wartenburg via Twitter. "Maybe this will help us all gain some perspective on priorities in training practices for the weeks and months ahead."

The detailed qualifying windows are now as follows:

OUTRIGHT QUALIFICATION BY MARK:

Marathon & 50km race walk:
 1 January 2019 – 5 April 2020
 1 December 2020 – 31 May 2021

10,000m, 20km race walk & combined events:
 1 January 2019 – 5 April 2020
 1 December 2020 – 29 June 2021

All Other Disciplines:
 1 May 2019 – 5 April 2020
 1 December 2020 – 29 June 2021

QUALIFICATION VIA WORLD RANKING SYSTEM:

Marathon & 50km race walk:
 1 December 2018 – 5 April 2020
 1 December 2020 – 31 May 2021

10,000m, 20km race walk & combined events:
 1 January 2019 – 5 April 2020
 1 December 2020 – 29 June 2021

All Other Disciplines:
 30 June 2019 – 5 April 2020
 1 December 2020 – 29 June 2021

The new qualifying system means that no marks achieved during the upcoming fall marathon season will count towards Olympic qualification, which includes the prestigious Boston, Berlin, Chicago, London and New York City Marathons, all part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (Boston and London shifted to the fall due to the pandemic).  That's a double blow for many athletes who have now lost both the spring and fall of 2020 to post qualifying marks.  This doesn't apply, however, to USA marathoners as the American team (including alternates) had already been selected at the USA Olympic Trials in Atlanta on 29 February.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe was pleased with the decision which he said followed consultation with the Athletes' Commission, Area Presidents and World Athletics Council.

"I am grateful for the detailed work and feedback from our Athletes' Commission and Council who believe suspending Olympic qualification during this period gives more certainty for athlete planning and preparation and is the best way to address fairness in what is expected to be the uneven delivery of competition opportunities across the globe for athletes given the challenges of international travel and government border restrictions," Coe said through a statement.


PHOTO: World Athletics president Sebastian Coe at the 2016 World Indoor Championships in Portland, Ore. (photo by Chris Lotsbom for Race Results Weekly)