Age Groups and Events

Youth Age Divisions

Youth competitions typically take place in two-year age divisions. These age divisions provide young athletes the opportunity to compete with other athletes of similar ability. The age divisions for competition year 2015 are as follows:

Age Division Year of Birth
8 & Under (previously Sub-bantam) 2007+*
9 - 10 (previously Bantam) 2005-2006
11 - 12 (previously Midget) 2003-2004
13 - 14 (prevously Youth) 2001-2002
15 - 16 (previously Intermediate) 1999-2000
17 - 18 (previously Young) 1997-1998**

* Per USATF Rule 300.1 (c) “Athletes must be at years of age on years of age on December 31 of the current year to compete at the Youth Athletics or Junior Olympic National Championships.”

** Athletes who are still 18 through the final day of the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships are eligible to compete in the 17-18 age division through that meet. This extended eligibility does not apply to cross country events

Athletes must compete only in their own age group! Girls compete against girls, boys compete against boys.

Track and Field Events by Age Groups:



Sub Bantam - 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m Relay, Long Jump, Turbo Javelin


Bantam - 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 4x100m Relay, 4x400m Relay, 1500m Racewalk, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot put (6 lbs), Turbo Javelin, Triathlon (Girls - 200m, High Jump, Shot Put; Boys - 400m, High Jump, Shot Put).


Midget - 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 80m Hurdles (30" high, 12m to 1st hurdle, 7.5m between hurdles, 15.5m from last hurdle to finish), 4x100m Relay, 4x400m Relay, 4x800m Relay, 1500m Racewalk, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put (6 lbs), Discus Throw (1k), Turbo Javelin, Pentathlon (80m Hurdles, Shot Put, High Jump, Long Jump; Girls-800m, Boys -1500m).


Youth - 100m, 200m, 400, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 100m Hurdles (Girls - 30" high, 13m to first hurdle, 8m between hurdles, 15m from last hurdle to finish/Boys - 33" high, 13m to first hurdle, 8.5m between hurdles, 10.5m from last hurdle to finish), 200m Hurdles (30" high, 20m to first hurdle, 35m between hurdles, 40m from last hurdle to finish), 4x100m Relay, 4x400m Relay, 4x800m Relay, 3000m Racewalk, High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, Triple jump, Shot Put (Girls - 6 lbs, Boys - 4k), Discus Throw (1k), Javelin Throw (600g) Pentathlon (100m Hurdles, Shot Put, High Jump, Long Jump; Girls-800m, Boys-1500m).


Intermediate - Same as Youth plus 2000m Steeplechase (girls-30", boys-36"), 100m Hurdles (Girls-33" with 13m to first hurdle, 8.5m between hurdles, 10.5m from last hurdle to finish)110m Hurdles (Boys-39" with 15y to first hurdle, 10y between hurdles, 15y 10" from last hurdle to finish) 400m hurdles (Girls-30", Boys 36", with 45m to first hurdle, 35m between hurdles, 40m from last hurdle to finish), Hammer Throw (girls 4K/boys 12 lbs), Heptathlon-Girls (1st day: 100m Hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m; 2nd day: long jump, javelin throw, 800m); Decathlon-Boys (1st day: 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m; 2nd day: 110m Hurdles, discus throw, pole valult, javelin throw, 1500m), 5000m race walk (instead of 3000m), Shot Put (girls 4k; boys 12 lbs), Discus Throw (girls 1k; boys 1.6k), Javelin Throw (girls 600g; boys 800g).


Young - Same as Intermediate except for 5000m for men (instead of 3000m).



Cross Country Event Distances by Age Groups

*Sub Bantams - 2000 meters

Bantams - 3000 meters

Midgets - 3000 meters

Youth - 4000 meters

Intermediates - 5000 meters

Young - 5000 meters