2028 US Olympic Trials Return to Eugene, But With Changes
The 2028 US Olympic Trials will be held in Eugene, Oregon, from June 17-22, 2028, marking the sixth consecutive Trials to be held in the city. However, the event will be condensed to six days, with the 10,000m and combined events held separately earlier in the spring.
The 2028 US Olympic Trials are returning to Eugene, Oregon, but with significant changes to the traditional format. The Trials will be held at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field from June 17-22, 2028, marking the sixth consecutive Trials to be held in the city.
The condensed format of the Trials is expected to make it more challenging for athletes to qualify for the Olympics. The field events will be held as straight finals, with a reduced field size of 16 athletes, compared to 24 in previous years. This means that 1/3 of qualifying spots are likely to be wiped out.
The 5,000 meters and all field events will be staged as straight finals, with decisions yet to be made on the number of rounds in other events. The 1500 meters, for example, has historically been staged over three rounds at the Trials but just two rounds in non-Olympic years.
The condensed format may be more appealing to fans as there will be more action each day, but the cost could be fewer opportunities for athletes to chase their Olympic dreams.
A condensed schedule and earlier dates should not be an issue for athletes, according to LetsRun.com. The six-day format shouldn't affect how US athletes perform at the Olympics, and the USATF championships are held over four days in non-Olympic years.
However, the 800 and 1500 events may be affected by the change. The 800 is usually held over three rounds at USAs, while the 1500 has been held over three rounds in Olympic years and two rounds in non-Olympic years.
The 10,000 trials will be held earlier in the spring, with a gap of just 23 days between the end of the Trials on June 22 and the start of Olympic track & field on July 15.
Eugene continues to dominate hosting major events in the USA. By the end of 2028, Eugene will have hosted the following:
| Event | Number of Times | | --- | --- | | NCAA outdoor championships | 13 of the last 15 | | USATF Outdoor Championships | 7 of the last 8 | | US Olympic Trials | 6 |
Hayward Field is the best track & field facility in the country, and TrackTown USA is a well-funded, experienced, and professional local organizing committee. These reasons explain why USATF continues to award bids to Eugene year after year.
But, because of its Olympic connection, the US Olympic Trials is the one meet that should be able to draw fans no matter where it is held. We'd love to see another city get a chance to host the Trials at some point, but that's a topic for another day.
## The Impact of the Condensed Format
The condensed format of the Trials is expected to make it more challenging for athletes to qualify for the Olympics. The field events will be held as straight finals, with a reduced field size of 16 athletes, compared to 24 in previous years. This means that 1/3 of qualifying spots are likely to be wiped out.
The 5,000 meters and all field events will be staged as straight finals, with decisions yet to be made on the number of rounds in other events. The 1500 meters, for example, has historically been staged over three rounds at the Trials but just two rounds in non-Olympic years.
## The Benefits of the Condensed Format
A condensed schedule and earlier dates should not be an issue for athletes, according to LetsRun.com. The six-day format shouldn't affect how US athletes perform at the Olympics, and the USATF championships are held over four days in non-Olympic years.
The 10,000 trials will be held earlier in the spring, with a gap of just 23 days between the end of the Trials on June 22 and the start of Olympic track & field on July 15.
## Eugene's Dominance in Hosting Major Events
Eugene continues to dominate hosting major events in the USA. By the end of 2028, Eugene will have hosted the following:
| Event | Number of Times | | --- | --- | | NCAA outdoor championships | 13 of the last 15 | | USATF Outdoor Championships | 7 of the last 8 | | US Olympic Trials | 6 |
Hayward Field is the best track & field facility in the country, and TrackTown USA is a well-funded, experienced, and professional local organizing committee. These reasons explain why USATF continues to award bids to Eugene year after year.
