Commonwealth Games auto-qualifying standards are ludicrously difficult

The 2022 Commonwealth Games standards released by Athletics Canada have been causing a stir on social media due to the fact that to secure automatic qualification in most events, you would need to run a Canadian record.

The standards were set by Athletics Canada based on the average performances of the top three Commonwealth athletes during the past three track and field seasons; in most events, these “standard” times would have earned Canadian athletes medals in Tokyo. 

Note that Athletics Canada has been given a maximum team quota: it can send 31 athletes to the Games. Athletes will be eligible to make the team based on their season’s best performances–a similar approach to the Tokyo Olympic team selection this past summer.

According to the document released Wednesday, eligible athletes be ranked based on their proximity to the standard. The top athletes with the highest ranking will be selected.

Athletes who were ranked in the World Athletics top 50 but missed the Olympic standard last year, still made the Tokyo Olympic team. Although the standards for the 2022 Commonwealth Games are higher, the same selection regulations apply. Canada’s top-performing athletes will still be selected for these Games, regardless of the standards.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games start following the 2022 World Championships from July 28 to Aug. 8.

posted Thursday March 10th
by Marley Dickinson