ORLANDO, Fla. — The course for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon on Feb. 3, 2024 will weave through downtown Orlando, consisting of one 2.2-mile loop and three 8-mile loops, according to an announcement by organizers at City Hall on Tuesday.
What You Need To Know
- The U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon will be held in Orlando on Feb. 3, 2024
- The top finishers will represent Team USA at the Olympic Games in Paris
- Organizers announced the route at the City Hall Rotunda
- The course will go through Orlando's neighborhoods and business districts
The elite men's and women's long-distance runners will compete on the flat, fast course for the opportunity to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games Paris in 2024. The top three female and male finishers in the Olympic Trials who have met qualifying performance standards will make up the 2024 USA Track and Field Olympic squad.
Orlando will be the first city in Florida to host the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon. The event is scheduled to begin at noon Eastern Time and will continue until about 4 p.m.
The marathon course will run through several neighborhoods, main streets and business districts in Orlando, including the Central Business District, City District, South Eola, Lake Eola Heights Historic District, Lake Cherokee Historic District, Lake Davis Greenwood, Lake Como, North Quarter, Lawsona/Fern Creek, SoDo District and Thornton Park neighborhood and District. It will then head east to and around The Milk District neighborhood and main street.
Designated viewing areas for spectators will be set up along the course. Streets near and along the route may be closed or have limited vehicle or pedestrian access. Details about how to be a part of the Trials, watch locations, specific traffic patterns, detours and parking will be shared in the fall, officials said.
"The US Olympic Team Trials – Marathon not only showcases our status as the country’s top sports destination, but also creates an exciting opportunity to bring our residents together to cheer on our nation and support our top U.S. athletes,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said. “We look forward to welcoming all the athletes, their families and friends and all the spectators this February and for the opportunity to highlight Orlando’s vibrant, inclusive and diverse community.”
USA Track and Field Chief Executive Officer Max Siegel, Track Shack co-owner John Hughes, Greater Orlando Sports Commission President and CEO Jason Siegel and 1996 Olympian Keith Brantly took part in the announcement in the City Hall Rotunda.
“We extend our gratitude to the City of Orlando and its residents for embracing this exciting event and joining us as Team USATF continues on its Journey to Gold for Paris 2024,” Siegel said. “The dynamic spirit and energy of Orlando will help showcase the immense running talent here in the United States and we’re excited to see it showcased during this historic event. USATF thanks all our partners and we look forward to bringing world class running talent to the streets of downtown Orlando in February 2024.”
This will mark the 15th time the men's marathon Trials have been held. The first was at Alamosa, Colo., in August 1968. It will be the 11th time the women's marathon team has been selected in a Trials event. The inaugural women's marathon Trials were held at Olympia, Wash., in May 1984.