The 1976 United States Olympic trials for track and field were held June 19–27 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. These were the last organized by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU); the Amateur Sports Act of 1978 was passed two years later which formed the new national governing body for the sport of track and field, The Athletics Congress. The 1970s was a transitional period when amateur athletes were seeking ways to be paid for their athletic efforts. Many athletes had sacrificed their eligibility to run professionally, others made the attempt and were in transition to regain their amateur status.
The trials for the men's marathon was held in Eugene a month earlier on May 22. The longest race for women at the 1976 Olympics was the 1500 meters, but eventual Olympic marathoners Joan Benoit, Julie Brown, and Francie Larrieu all participated.
For the first time, the men's 50 km race walk was not part of the Olympics, but returned in 1980.
High school athletes Houston McTear, Dwayne Evans, Chandra Cheeseborough, Sheila Ingram, Rhonda Brady, Paula Girven, and Kathy McMillan were successful in these trials.
Men's results Key: .
Men track events 100 meters Wind +1.8Harvey Glance 10.11Houston McTear 10.16Steve Riddick 10.18 200 meters Wind +1.7Millard Hampton 20.10Dwayne Evans 20.22Mark Lutz 20.42 400 metersMaxie Parks 45.58Fred Newhouse 45.76Herm Frazier 45.84 800 metersRick Wohlhuter 1:44.78James Robinson 1:45.86Mark Enyeart 1:46.28 1500 metersRick Wohlhuter 3:36.47Matt Centrowitz 3:36.70Mike Durkin 3:36.72 5000 metersDick Buerkle 13:26.60Duncan MacDonald 13:29.46Paul Geis 13.38.46 10,000 metersFrank Shorter 27:55.45Craig Virgin 27:59.43Garry Bjorklund 28:03.74 110 m hurdles Wind +2.2Charles Foster 13.44w (13.2h)Willie Davenport 13.52wJames Owens 13.57w 400 m hurdlesEdwin Moses 48.30 NRQuentin Wheeler 48.65Mike Shine 49.33 3000 m s'chaseDoug Brown 8.27.39Henry Marsh 8.27.42Mike Roche 8.32.70 20K racewalkTodd Scully 1:25:29 Ron Laird 1:25:44Larry Walker 1:25:57MarathonFrank Shorter 2:11:51Bill Rodgers 2:11:59Don Kardong 2:13:54
Men field events High jumpBill Jankunis Dwight Stones James Barrineau Pole vaultDave Roberts WREarl Bell Terry Porter Long jumpArnie Robinson w +3.5Larry Myricks w +3.8Randy Williams w +2.7 Triple jumpJames Butts w +2.9Tommy Haynes w +2.8Rayfield Dupree w +2.8 Shot putAl Feuerbach George Woods Pete Shmock Discus throwMac Wilkins John Powell Jay Silvester Hammer throwLarry Hart Ted Bregar Alvin Jackson Javelin throwSam Colson Richard George Anthony Hall DecathlonCaitlyn Jenner 8538 WRFred Dixon 8294Fred Samara 8004
Women's results Women track events 100 meters Wind +1.95Brenda Morehead 11.08 Chandra Cheeseborough 11.13Evelyn Ashford 11.22 200 meters Wind +2.3Brenda Morehead 22.49w Chandra Cheeseborough 22.64wDebra Armstrong 22.74w 400 metersSheila Ingram 52.69 Debra Sapenter 52.73 Rosalyn Bryant 52.76 800 metersMadeline Jackson 1:59.81 NR Cyndy Poor 2:00.55 Kathy Weston 2:00.73 1500 metersCyndy Poor 4:07.32 NRJan Merrill 4:07.35 Francie Larrieu 4:08.08 100 m hurdles Wind +2.3Rhonda Brady 13.25w Deby LaPlante 13.27Pat Donnelly 13.36
Women field events High jumpPaula Girven Joni Huntley Pam Spencer Long jumpKathy McMillan wSherron Walker wMartha Watson w Shot putMaren Seidler Kathy Devine Mary Jacobson Discus throwLynne Winbigler Jan Svendsen Monette Driscoll Javelin throwKate Schmidt Sherry Calvert Karin Smith PentathlonJane Frederick 4622 Gale Fitzgerald 4417Marilyn King 4374
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