At the end of February, hundreds of elite marathon runners will descend on Atlanta with the hope of making the U.S. Olympic team.
The Olympic marathon trials will determine which three women and three men will represent the United States in the marathon in the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo.
As Atlanta gets ready to host the race, here are some things to know ahead of time.
What are the Olympic marathon trials?
The race will determine which athletes will compete in the marathon for the U.S. in the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo. The top three female and top three male finishers in the trials will be Tokyo bound.
Why are the Olympic marathon trials being held in Atlanta?
Atlanta won against three other cities to hold the marathon trials for both men and women. Atlanta Track Club executive director Rich Kenah previously told the AJC he thinks Atlanta was selected because of the city’s accessibly due to the airport and the walkability of the downtown race area.
When are the Olympic marathon trials?
The race will start around noon on Feb. 29, with the men leaving the start line around 12:03 p.m. and the women slated to begin around 12:13 p.m.
Where is the route for the Olympic marathon trials?
The athletes will start and finish the race downtown in Centennial Olympic Park. After leaving the start line, the course heads north, looping through Midtown. Eventually, the athletes will make their way down near Summerhill, before heading back to downtown.
Who will compete in the Olympic marathon trials in Atlanta?
In order to participate in the trial, athletes had to run a qualifying marathon between Sept. 1, 2017, and Jan. 19, 2020. For men, the qualifying time was between 2:15:00 and 2:19:00. For women, it was between 2:37:00 and 2:45:00.
Scott Fauble, Parker Stinson and Andrew Bumbalough are among the male runners with the fastest qualifying times, while Sara Hall, Stephanie Bruce and Nell Rojas are at the top of the women's field.
How to watch the Olympic marathon trials in Atlanta:
NBC will broadcast the race beginning at noon, but for Atlantans who want to go out and see it live, spectator information can be found here. For visitors coming in from out of town, there is information on navigating MARTA, where to stay and what to do in Atlanta available here.
