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| NCAA Div. I | NCAA Div. II | NCAA Div. III |
| Cross Country | Cross Country | Cross Country |
| Indoor Track & Field | Indoor Track & Field | Indoor Track & Field |
| Outdoor Track & Field | Outdoor Track & Field | Outdoor Track & Field |
CROSS COUNTRY
DIVISION I CROSS COUNTRY
NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships Homepage
Team Selections
A total of 31 teams compete as a team at the NCAA D-I Championships. 18 bids are automatic (top two teams in each of nine regions), 13 bids are at-large.
At-large selection: The process for selection involves a review of regular-season competition and finish at the regional championships. Regional finish is the first criterion; for example, a fourth-place team may not be selected for an at-large berth ahead of a third-place team from the same region. But, a team with a fourth-place finish, for example, could “push” both the third- and fourth-place finishing team into the championships if the fourth-place team has enough “wins” to be the next at-large team. Wins from the regular-season are only counted if squads beat another university’s “A” team, defined by having competed four or more individuals in that regular-season meet who also competed at the regional championships. Official designations of “A” and “B” teams can be accomplished only after the NCAA regional meets have been completed. Also, only competitions starting September 8 through regional meet weekend are included in the analysis.
Additional Individual Selections
After teams have been determined, 38 additional individuals per gender are selected to compete at the NCAA Championships. Among individuals NOT selected as members of qualifying teams in the above process, the top four finishers at each regional meet are automatically selected (each must have finished within the top 25 of the region).
At-large selection: Two additional athletes will be selected from the remainder of the national pool (and must have finished in the regional top 25) as at-large individuals.
DIVISION II CROSS COUNTRY
NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships Homepage
The full selection procedures are available HERE. What follows is a summary.
Team Selections
A total of 34 teams will be selected.
Team Automatic Qualification: The top three teams from each regional meet will automatically advance to the championship finals (24 teams).
Team At-large Selection: Ten (10) at-large teams will be selected by the NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Committee using the below-outlined selection criteria (in priority order). There is no limit to the number of at-large teams that may be selected from any given region. (details)
Additional Individual Selections
After the 32 selected teams have been determined, a minimum of 24 additional individuals per gender are selected to compete at the NCAA Championships.
1. The top two individuals per region who are not part of a qualifying team will automatically advance to the championship finals (16 individuals).
2. All individuals who finish in the top five at the regional meet and are not part of a qualifying team will automatically advance to the championship finals.
3. The next eight individuals will be selected at-large. There is no limit to the number of at-large individuals that may be selected from the same region. (details)
DIVISION III CROSS COUNTRY
NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships Homepage
Team Selections
A total of 32 teams compete as a team at the NCAA DIII Championships. 16 bids are automatic (top two teams in each of eight regions), 16 bids are at-large.
At-large selection: The NCAA DIII Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country Committee is tasked with selecting the 16 at-large teams for the national championships. Regional finish is the primary piece of at-large qualifying criteria (since the 2013 season, there is no longer a cap on how many at-large teams may be selected from the same region). A team cannot be selected to the national meet over a team it finished behind at its respective regional.
According to the NCAA Pre-Championships Manual, the following are the criteria used by the committee to select at-large teams (no preferential order): regional place/performance, late-season performance (using last three regular-season meets), head-to-head competition versus teams already qualified, common opponents using late-season comparisons, regional-meet point gap, late-season meet point gaps. Results from the regular-season are only counted if a team’s “A” team competes against another’s “A” team, defined by having competed five or more individuals in that regular-season meet that competed at the regional championships. Official designations of “A” teams can be accomplished only after the NCAA regional meets have been completed.
Additional Individual Selections
After teams have been determined, 56 additional individuals per gender are selected to compete at the NCAA Championships. Among individuals NOT selected as members of qualifying teams in the above process, the top seven finishers at each regional are automatically selected.
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
DIVISION I INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships Homepage
Qualifying Criteria
Qualification to the championships is based on the descending-order list for the season and adhering to the qualifying regulations/criteria published on www.NCAA.org. For each men’s individual event contested, including the heptathlon, the top 16 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each women’s individual event contested, including the pentathlon, the top 16 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each relay event contested, the top 12 declared relay teams will be accepted into the competition. The stated maximums are absolute and will not be extended as a result of ties.
**Starting in 2016-17 – Minimum Contests and Participant Requirements for Championships Eligibility**
In order for student-athletes to be eligible to participate in the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships, his or her member institution must meet the minimum contest and participant requirements for sports sponsorship as is detailed in the NCAA Division I Manual. Failure to meet these minimum requirements will preclude institution’s student-athletes from being allowed to be declared for participation in the championships.
Here are tools to use for mark conversion, which are used for championship qualifying placing and seeding only.
NCAA Track Event Conversions (PDF)
Indoor Track Facility Index Conversion Summary (PDF)
NCAA Altitude Converter Program
Qualifying Period
December 1 through the second Sunday prior to the national championships. (Exceptions: A combined event competition concluding December 1 falls within the qualifying window. In addition, conference championships concluding by 5 p.m. Eastern the second Monday prior to the national championships fall within the qualifying window. Note, all results for conference championships concluding on the second Monday prior to the national championship must be posted to TFRRS by the 5 p.m. Eastern deadline. The qualifying marks must be made in a scheduled collegiate or open track and field meet conducted under the NCAA Rules of Competition or an open track and field competition conducted under the competition rules of the NCAA, USATF or IAAF.
DIVISION II INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships Homepage
Qualifying Criteria
Student-athletes qualify to the Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships by meeting performance standards during the regular season. Qualifying standards must be met during the current season in indoor competition. Qualifying performances are only eligible if achieved in meets that adhere to the qualifying criteria for NCAA indoor and outdoor track and field.
Here are tools to use for mark conversion, which are used for championship qualifying placing and seeding only.
NCAA Track Event Conversions (PDF)
Indoor Track Facility Index Conversion Summary (PDF)
NCAA Altitude Converter Program
Qualifying Period
December 1, if it falls on a Friday. If not, then the Friday preceding December 1 through the second Sunday prior to the national championships. The qualifying marks must be made in a scheduled collegiate or open track and field meet conducted under the NCAA Rules of Competition or an open track and field competition conducted under the competition rules of the NCAA, USATF or IAAF.
DIVISION III INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships Homepage
Qualifying Criteria
Qualification to the championships is based on the descending-order list for the season and adhering to the qualifying regulations/criteria published on NCAA.org. For each men’s individual event contested, including the heptathlon, the top 15 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each woman’s individual event contested, including the pentathlon, the top 17 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each relay event contested, the top 12 declared relay teams will be accepted into the competition. The stated maximums are absolute and will not be extended as a result of ties.
Here are tools to use for mark conversion, which are used for championship qualifying placing and seeding only.
NCAA Track Event Conversions (PDF)
Indoor Track Facility Index Conversion Summary (PDF)
NCAA Altitude Converter Program
Qualifying Period
December 1 through the Saturday prior to the national championships. The qualifying marks must be made in a scheduled collegiate or open track and field meet conducted under the NCAA Rules of Competition or an open track and field competition conducted under the competition rules of the NCAA, USATF or IAAF.
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
DIVISION I OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships Homepage
Individual and Relay Event Qualifying Criteria
Qualification to the preliminary championships competition is based on the descending-order list for the season, segregated by east and west sites, and prepared solely from the mandatory submission of meet results during the season and adhering to the qualifying regulations. For each individual event contested at each of the preliminary championships competition sites, the top 48 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each relay event contested at each of the preliminary championships competition sites, the top 24 declared relay teams will be accepted into the competition. The stated maximums are absolute and will not be extended as a result of ties.
Combined Event Qualifying Criteria
The heptathlon and decathlon events are not contested at the preliminary championships competition. Qualification to the championships in these two events is accomplished through a competitor’s position on the national descending order list. The top 24 declared student-athletes in each of these two events will be accepted into the national championships. Declaration for these two events is completed during the one and only declaration period, which is before the preliminary championships competition.
Final Championships Competiton
Qualifying to the final championships competition is accomplished through performance in the preliminary championships competition at each site for events contested at those competitions. Twelve competitors from each individual event and 12 teams from each relay event advance from each preliminary championships competition site to the final championships competition. Qualification, through competition in an event at a preliminary championships competition, requires participation in that event at the final championships competition. Any individual or relay team must remain eligible for advancement throughout all rounds of the championships.
**Starting in 2016-17 – Minimum Contests and Participant Requirements for Championships Eligibility**
In order for studentathletes to be eligible to participate in the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships, his or her member institution must meet the minimum contest and participant requirements for sports sponsorship as is detailed in the NCAA Division I Manual. Failure to meet these minimum requirements will preclude institution’s studentathletes from being allowed to be declared for participation in any round of the championships.
Here are tools to use for mark conversion, which are used for championship qualifying placing and seeding only.
NCAA Track Event Conversions (PDF)
NCAA Altitude Converter Program
Qualifying Period
March 1 through the second Sunday prior to the start of preliminary-round competition. (Exception: Conference championships concluding by 5 p.m. Eastern the second Monday prior to the preliminary-round competition fall within the qualifying window. Note, all results for conference championships concluding on the second Monday prior to the preliminary-round competition must be posted to TFRRS by the 5 p.m. Eastern deadline). The qualifying marks must be made in a scheduled collegiate or open track and field meet conducted under the NCAA Rules of Competition or an open track and field competition conducted under the competition rules of the NCAA, USATF or IAAF.
DIVISION II OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships Homepage
Automatic Qualifying Criteria
All eligible student-athletes who meet the automatic standard and are declared properly will be entered in the championships. Automatic standards can be viewed by clicking the link above.
At-Large Qualifying Criteria
Eligible student-athletes meeting a provisional standard will be placed on a descending-order list for each event. Once student-athletes who achieved automatic standards have been entered into the championships, the national committee will select student-athletes from the declared descending-order list to fill the fields to their desired minimum field sizes of 20 for individual events, 16 for combined events and 14 for relays. If the field exceeds the maximum number of participants (377 per gender) after filling each event with the desired minimum field sizes, the committee will remove participants from various events based on strength or event type (relays and combined) until the field does not exceed 377 participants. In order to control field sizes and the length of the championships, the committee has implemented maximum field sizes of 24 for each event. When each event has been filled to the desired minimum field size, the committee will add one participant in each event, giving consideration first to balanced field sizes and second to the strength of the field, until the maximum number of participants (377 per gender) or the maximum field size (24) has been reached. The national committee may add the next student-athlete on the descending-order list to the field of an event if that student-athlete already has been accepted into the meet in another event and the addition of that student-athlete does not lengthen the meet or result in a field size over 24. Only student-athletes declared properly during the designated declaration periods will be considered when filling fields.
Here are tools to use for mark conversion, which are used for championship qualifying placing and seeding only.
NCAA Track Event Conversions (PDF)
NCAA Altitude Converter Program
Qualifying Period
The third Thursday in February through the second Sunday prior to the national championships. The qualifying marks must be made in a scheduled collegiate or open track and field meet conducted under the NCAA Rules of Competition or an open track and field competition conducted under the competition rules of the NCAA, USATF or IAAF.
DIVISION III OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships Homepage
Qualifying Criteria
Qualification to the championships is based on the descending-order list for the season and adhering to the qualifying regulations/criteria published on NCAA.org. For each men’s individual event contested, including the decathlon, the top 20 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each woman’s individual event contested, including the heptathlon, the top 22 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each relay event contested, the top 16 declared relay teams will be accepted into the competition. The stated maximums are absolute and will not be extended as a result of ties.
Here are tools to use for mark conversion, which are used for championship qualifying placing and seeding only.
NCAA Track Event Conversions (PDF)
NCAA Altitude Converter Program
Qualifying Period
March 1 through the Thursday prior to the national championships. The qualifying marks must be made in a scheduled collegiate or open track and field meet conducted under the NCAA Rules of Competition or an open track and field competition conducted under the competition rules of the NCAA, USATF or IAAF.