Youth Olympic Americas team, potential U.S. qualifiers and others: Post-CARIFTA update

by Jim Spier and SteveU

As has been noted previously, the Youth Olympic Trails in Miramar, Florida on April 4-5 were the first of three meets to select athletes for the "Americas" team -- which will compete in Nanjing, China at the second Youth Olympic Games, August 16-28, 2014.  The Americas continental team includes athletes from North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean.  The Miramar trials meet brought together athletes from 10 of those countries vying for spots, such as the U.S., Mexico, Canada and others.

This past weekend (Apr. 18-21), eligible athletes from Caribbean countries competed for spots during the CARIFTA Games in Martinique.  Then in June, athletes from South American countries will compete in Columbia for the final stage of qualifying.

After the Miramar Trials meet, we published files that gave some context to those results and a sense of the Youth Olympic Games qualifying chances for the top finishers in each event. They broke 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).

Now we update those files to included possible qualifiers from these just-completed CARIFTA Games.

BOYS Youth Olympic Americas status Apr 22 update | GIRLS Youth Olympic Americas status Apr 22 update

NOTES: 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, "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."

More links:  USATF Trials site | Youth Olympic Games site | Pre-Meet 2014 Youth Olympic Area Trials Fact Sheet | Pre-Meet USATF press release 

 

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