Youth Olympic Americas athlete status: Where potential U.S. qualifiers and others stand
The files linked below give some context to the results of last weekend's Youth Olympic Trials in Miramar, FL, and a sense of the Youth Olympic Games qualifying chances for the top finishers in each event.
BOYS Youth Olympic Americas athlete status | GIRLS Youth Olympic Americas athlete status
These files break down each boys' and girls' event, including the number that will be chosen for "The Americas" team (see below), the average 3rd place finish from the last Youth Olympic Games (2010) and last two IAAF World Youth Championships (2011 and 2013), and a list of the top finishers from the Miramar YOT (with just one athlete per country listed; again, see below).
According to USATF, "The U.S. Olympic Committee has awarded USATF with 14 Youth Olympic Games athlete nomination slots, allocated specifically to U.S. athletes placing highest in their events. Only one athlete per country earns a place in any single event, and any athlete making the team may only compete in one individual event at the Youth Olympic Games, in addition to a possible appearance on the 8x100m mixed relay team."
The USATF also stated that high consideration will be given to athletes meeting or exceeding those aforementioned "average 3rd-place finish" marks from the previous YOG and WYC events.
Also, "There will be a total of three Americas Team Area Youth Olympic Trials - Track & Field events, featuring the first at Miramar in the U.S., one in the Caribbean and another in South America. U.S. Athletes may only compete in the U.S. event as nominations for the Americas Youth Olympic Team are determined following the third and final trials event."
The Caribbean trials is part of the CARIFTA Games (April 19-21) and the South American trials is planned for June in Columbia.
More links: USATF Trials site | Youth Olympic Games site | Pre-Meet 2014 Youth Olympic Area Trials Fact Sheet | Pre-Meet USATF press release
