The IAAF Olympic Standard Qualifying Period opened on May 1 of 2015, as track and field's most elite performers must hit the Standard to be eligible to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. In 2015, there are already twelve high school athletes who have achieved the IAAF Olympic Qualifying Standard. Eight high school athletes competed in the last Olympic Trials in 2012, but none held the IAAF standard.
Can a high schooler represent Team USA in 2016?
The IAAF Olympic Standards
| Event | Women | Men |
| 100M | 11.32 | 10.16 |
| 200M | 23.20 | 20.50 |
| 400M | 52.00 | 45.40 |
| 800M | 2:01.00 | 1:45.80 |
| 1500M | 4:06.00 | 3:36.00 |
| 5000M | 15:20.00 | 13.25.00 |
| 10000M | 32.15.00 | 28:00.00 |
| Marathon | 2:42:00 | 2:17:00 |
| 3K Steeple | 9:45.00 | 8:28.00 |
| 100H/110H | 13.00 | 13.47 |
| 400H | 56.20 | 49.40 |
| High Jump | 1.94(6-4.5) | 2.29(7-6.25) |
| Pole Vault | 4.50(14-9.25) | 5.70(18-8.5) |
| Long Jump | 6.70(21-11.75) | 8.15(26-8.75) |
| Triple Jump | 14.20(46-7) | 16.90(55-5.25) |
| Shot Put | 17.80(58-4.75) | 20.50(67-3) |
| Discus Throw | 61.00(200-1.5) | 66.00(216-6.5) |
| Hammer Throw | 71.00(232-11.25) | 78.00(255-10.75) |
| Javelin Throw | 62.00(203-5) | 83.00(272-3.75) |
| Mutis | 6200 | 8100 |
Here is the list of prep athletes, the event(s) they have hit the standard in and their time/mark.
Men
| Name | Event | Mark |
| Noah Lyles | 100 / 200 | 10.14 / 20.18 |
| Ryan Clark | 200 | 20.46 |
| Michael Norman | 200 / 400 | 20.24 / 45.19 |
Women
| Name | Event | Mark |
| Candace Hill | 100 / 200 | 10.98 / 22.43 |
| Teahna Daniels | 100 | 11.24 |
| Zaria Francis | 100 / 200 | 11.26 / 23.09 |
| Kaylin Whitney | 200 | 22.47 |
| Lauren Rain Williams | 200 | 22.90 |
| Lynna Irby | 400 | 51.79 |
| Sydney McLaughlin | 400 Hurdles | 55.28 |
| Kate Hall | Long Jump | 6.83(22-5) |
| Alexa Efraimson | 1500 | 4:03.39 |
It is important to keep in mind that the period to hit the IAAF Olympic Standard is open until July 11, 2016, just one day after the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field. There are still a few high school athletes who are very close to hitting the standard.
The National High School Record Holder in the High Jump, Vashti Cunningham, is just one quarter of an inch off the IAAF mark. Her current best is 6-4.25 and the standard is 6-4.5. The rising senior from Bishop Gorman in Nevada is the current U.S. leader, including professional and collegiate athletes, and ranks No. 11 in the World.
Even though a high schooler may not have achieved the IAAF Olympic Standard, they can also hit the USATF Standard and earn the chance to compete at the Trials. A perfect example is Jordan Hasay. At the 2008 Trials, Hasay had one of the most notable high school performances in Trials history, despite not having the IAAF Olympic Standard. The 16-year-old set what was at the time the National High School Record in the 1500m with 4:14.50 to qualify for the final. Could the 2016 Olympic Trials produce another story like Jordan?
High school track is on the rise. Only eight high school athletes competed at the 2012 Olympic Trials, two of whom, Mary Cain and Ajee Wilson, ultimately bypassed college to turn professional. However, of these eight athletes, none of them had the IAAF Olympic Standard. This Olympic year, there are already twelve athletes who HAVE achieved the IAAF Olympic Standard, two of whom are already professionals in Kaylin Whitney and Alexa Efraimson. With nearly a full calendar year to go, there is still plenty of time for more high schoolers to hit the standards.
It is clear that high school track and field is getting more competitive. Now, being an "elite" high schooler means one can compete with professionals on not only the national stage, but also the international stage. It's crazy to think about that! Who knows, by 2020 even more high schoolers could hit the IAAF Olympic Standard and possibly go pro. It is an exciting time for high school track and field.
High Schoolers in the Olympics - Lyle Knudson, July 1, 2012