Teen Alana Hadley Probably Won't Be Eligible to Compete in 2016 Olympic Marathon

The 18-year-old will be allowed to run Olympic Trials, but not go to Rio if she places in the top three.

ByScott Douglas;

Image by Rhiannon Johns/Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

Alana Hadley, who at age 18 is the youngest to meet the qualifying standard for the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials, probably won't be eligible to run in the 2016Olympics if she finishes in the top three at the Trials race, because it's expected that the minimum age for Olympic marathoners will be 20.

The International Association of Athletics Federations is expected to release eligibility requirements for the 2016 Olympics this spring. Jill Geer, chief public affairs officer for USA Track & Field, told Runner's World Newswire preliminary indications are that the standards for next year's Games will be the ones used for the 2012 Olympics. If so, track athletes will need to be at least 18 years old at the start of 2016, except for marathoners, who will need to be at least 20. Hadley's date of birth is January 8, 1997, which means she would fall just short of the age-20 requirement. (The IAAF did not respond to inquiries about when the standards will be announced.)