state & national track & field athletics pathways
Qld Athletics State Championships:
Are usually held in March, there are no qualifying standards and most USCAC athletes can enter (age limits apply)
Entry fees are payable for Base & Gold memberships athletes. Platinum membership includes entry fees.
Athletes are encouraged to compete in USCAC singlet/crop top; however, it is not compulsory
QA State Team selection for the Australian Track and Field Championships (Nationals)
LINK TO QA STATE TEAM SELECTION POLICY HERE
The selection policy for the QA State Team is quite detailed and we would strongly recommend new families read the selection policy.
Usually nominations for selection into the QA State Team open on the 1st Jan and close on the Monday or Tuesday after State Championships at 9am SHARP!
No late nominations are accepted.
It would be suggested that as soon as the athlete qualifies in their selected event/s that they complete the QA Team Registration process and upgrade to Gold membership (if required)
LINK TO QA STATE TEAM REGISTRATION
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT QA STATE TEAM:
- There will be a QA fee for the State team athletes
- Athletes will be required to purchase a uniform after team selection conformation
- Athletes will be required to find their own transport & accommodation to the National Championships which are generally held from late March to mid-April. Often athletes can apply for travel grants & USCAC have an athlete subsidy *Conditions Apply – https://uscathleticsclub.asn.au/athlete-financial-support/
- Australian Track and Field Championship venues change yearly
Brief & general summary, to be eligible for QA State Team:
- The athlete must be a Gold or Platinum member.
*Athletes can upgrade from Base membership to Gold after QA State Championships. To upgrade from Base member to Gold will cost a minimum of $110. Use link below or find ‘How to upgrade’ in the Membership toolbox on the QA website page – JOIN
- Athlete must have competed at the Queensland Athletics Championships and at least one other QA competition during the summer season. The competitions include the QA Shield Series.
- The athlete must be 12 years of age as at the 31 December.
- QUALIFYING
1. Place at Championships
Athletes that finish in the first three places at the Queensland All Schools Championships; Queensland Combined Events Championships the first two places in the Athletics North Queensland Track & Field Championships* will automatically qualify up an age group, regardless of any changes in implement weights or hurdle heights. For example, the first three places in the U16 (aka 15 years) 100 metre hurdles at the Queensland All Schools Championships will qualify for the U17 110 metre hurdles at following Australian Athletics Championships.
Queensland Athletics Championships will be conducted in the following age groups – U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18 and U20 (the same age groups as the Australian Championships). Athletes that finish in the first three places in each age group at the Queensland Athletics Championships will be eligible to nominate for the team for that event.
This clause should be read in conjunction with point 2 in the ‘Additional Notes’ section below.
*ANQ registered athletes only
2. Achieve Entry Standard
Athletes who achieve the qualifying standard for their nominated event during the period 1st January the previous year to final day of the QA State Championships in the present year are eligible for selection in that event. Athletes must achieve the standard for their age group in the year that the AA Championships are being held and must ensure they achieve it with the correct implement or hurdle height where relevant.
Further explanation … U13 – U20 athletes will change age groups or ‘AGE UP’ mid-season summer athletics season. This will have an impact on certain events. Some throwers; hurdlers; distance athletes will find there is an increase in weight/height or distance. Eg. December 31 you may throw a 1kg discus – but Jan 1 you age up and now throw a 1.5 kg discus.
NOTES:
Wind readings may be up to 4.0m/s.
Athletes must be turning 14 years of age in the year of competition in order to enter any steeplechase event. Athletes must be turning 16 years of age in the year of competition in order to enter any event in excess of 5000 metres or any men’s open throwing, hurdles or steeplechase event.
Under 13 and some Under 14 events at nationals have some limitations, they are not able to compete “up” in any of these events, they are listed on entry standards as no event.
Performances can be achieved at any of the following meets:
- (a) Any meet conducted by World Athletics (eg. World Juniors) or Athletics Australia;
- (b) Any meet conducted by Queensland Athletics (QueenslandChampionships, 2023 Queensland All Schools Championships, QA Shield competitions, Athletics North Queensland events etc.) and similar standard meets conducted interstate.
- (c) The 2023 Queensland Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships
- (d) The following school championships: GPS, QGSSSA
- (e) Little Athletics events cannot be used for qualification
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
1. Queensland Athletics reserves the right to amend this Selection Criteria in circumstances where the rules governing the event are amended by the event organisers (Athletics Australia) or further information comes to hand. Any such amendments or further information will be added to the Queensland Athletics website (www.qldathletics.org.au) as soon as it becomes available.
Athletes may enter in multiple event age groups if an athlete has bettered the relevant entry standard. This rule is subject to the following criteria as set out under the following rules:
Provided an athlete has bettered the relevant entry standard for a higher age group than their own, the athlete may be entered in an individual event for such age group, subject to the following:
Athletes may only enter events in a maximum of two age groups.
No athlete may enter the same or similar events within the U15; U16; U17 & age groups.** Same or Similar event means 80/90/100/110m hurdles; 200/400m hurdles; 3000/5000 metres and 1500/3000/5000m walk and each of the throwing events (regardless of change in weight of implements).