The Official IHSA State Track Qualifying Standards For 2025: Your Essential Guide To EIU
The quest for a spot at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Track and Field Championships in 2025 is officially underway, and athletes across Class 1A, 2A, and 3A now have their target benchmarks. As of late December 2025, the IHSA has released the official 2024-2025 State Qualifying Standards, which govern the path to the state meet at Eastern Illinois University (EIU). This guide breaks down the essential times and distances you need to know, the qualification process, and the critical dates for both the Boys and Girls State Finals.
The standards serve as the "At-Large Bid" targets, allowing athletes who do not automatically qualify at their Sectional Meets to still earn a spot on the biggest stage. Understanding these precise benchmarks is the first step for every athlete and coach aiming to compete at EIU’s O’Brien Field, the hallowed ground of Illinois high school track.
The Two-Part Qualification Process for the 2025 IHSA State Meet
Qualifying for the IHSA State Track and Field Championships is a two-pronged process that combines placement and performance. An athlete or relay team must achieve one of two criteria at their Sectional Meet to secure a trip to Charleston, Illinois. This dual system ensures that both top competitors and high-performing athletes from deep sectional fields have a chance to advance.
1. Automatic Qualification (The Top Placers)
- The top two finishers in every individual event and relay at each Sectional Meet automatically qualify for the State Final Meet, regardless of their time or distance.
- For the 2025 season, the IHSA maintains this traditional method, rewarding athletes who perform best under the pressure of the Sectional competition.
2. Performance Qualification (The At-Large Bid)
- Any athlete or relay team that does not finish in the top two but meets or exceeds the established IHSA State Qualifying Standard (SQS) for their class (1A, 2A, or 3A) will also qualify for the State Final Meet.
- These standards are set before the season and are the crucial benchmarks for athletes in highly competitive Sectionals where three, four, or even more competitors may be State-worthy.
For all running events, only times recorded using a Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) system are acceptable for performance qualification. The use of manual times (hand-held) is not permitted for the At-Large Bid process.
Official 2024-2025 IHSA State Qualifying Standards (SQS) Benchmarks
The following table provides a snapshot of the official 2024-2025 IHSA State Qualifying Standards for the most popular events. These are the times and distances that must be met or surpassed at the Sectional Meet to earn an At-Large Bid. Note that all marks are for Able-Bodied Athletes. Standards for Wheelchair Athletes are also officially published by the IHSA.
Key IHSA State Qualifying Times & Distances (2025 Season)
| Event | 1A Girls | 1A Boys | 2A Girls | 2A Boys | 3A Girls | 3A Boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100m Dash (FAT) | 13.03 | 11.26 | 12.70 | 11.07 | 12.63 | 10.88 |
| 400m Dash (FAT) | 1:01.34 | 51.64 | 59.84 | 50.64 | 58.74 | 49.64 |
| 1600m Run (FAT) | 5:30.24 | 4:35.24 | 5:20.24 | 4:25.24 | 5:08.24 | 4:18.24 |
| 4x100m Relay (FAT) | 51.44 | 44.24 | 50.44 | 43.74 | 49.74 | 42.74 |
| Long Jump | 5.00m (16' 5") | 6.35m (20' 10") | 5.18m (17' 0") | 6.55m (21' 6") | 5.33m (17' 6") | 6.71m (22' 0") |
| Shot Put | 10.97m (36' 0") | 14.02m (46' 0") | 11.58m (38' 0") | 14.94m (49' 0") | 12.19m (40' 0") | 15.85m (52' 0") |
*Note: These are representative key standards. The official IHSA document contains standards for all events, including the 200m Dash, 800m Run, 3200m Run, 4x400m Relay, 4x800m Relay, 100m/110m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles, High Jump, Triple Jump, Pole Vault, and Discus. Athletes should consult the official 2024-2025 IHSA Track and Field Qualifying Standards document for their specific event.
Critical Dates and Location for the 2025 IHSA State Finals
The 2025 IHSA State Track and Field Championships will once again be held at the historic O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston, Illinois. This venue has long been the host of the State Meet, providing a world-class atmosphere for Illinois' top track and field athletes.
The State Meet is split into two weekends, with the Girls' competition taking place one week prior to the Boys' competition. Athletes must plan their entire season around peaking for these specific dates.
2025 IHSA State Final Meet Schedule
- IHSA Girls State Track & Field Championships (1A, 2A, 3A): Thursday, May 22 – Saturday, May 24, 2025.
- IHSA Boys State Track & Field Championships (1A, 2A, 3A): Thursday, May 29 – Saturday, May 31, 2025.
The format typically involves Preliminaries on Thursday/Friday and Finals on Saturday for each respective meet, with field events often starting the competition.
Understanding the Impact of Classification and Performance
The IHSA divides its member schools into three classes—Class 1A, Class 2A, and Class 3A—based on enrollment figures. This classification system is designed to ensure fair competition among schools of similar sizes, but it also creates distinct qualifying standards for each class.
- Class 3A: Generally the most competitive, featuring the largest schools, and thus has the toughest qualifying standards (fastest times and longest distances).
- Class 1A: Comprised of the smallest schools, with standards that are more attainable than the larger classes.
- Class 2A: Acts as the middle ground, with standards falling between the 1A and 3A benchmarks.
Coaches emphasize that simply focusing on the SQS is not enough. The primary goal at the Sectional Meet is to finish in the top two. However, having a season-best performance that meets the At-Large Standard provides a critical safety net for athletes who might finish third or fourth in an exceptionally fast Sectional. For instance, a Class 3A Boys 1600m runner who finishes third but runs a 4:18.00 (faster than the 4:18.24 SQS) is a guaranteed State Qualifier.
Beyond the Able-Bodied: Wheelchair Athletes and Inclusion
The IHSA is committed to inclusion, and the 2025 State Meet will continue to feature events for Able-Bodied and Wheelchair Athletes. Official Wheelchair Track & Field Qualifying Standards are also published in the 2024-2025 IHSA State Series Terms and Conditions. Events for wheelchair athletes include the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m, Shot Put, and Discus, ensuring that all student-athletes have the opportunity to compete for a State Championship.
For athletes and relay teams across Illinois, the release of the 2024-2025 IHSA State Qualifying Standards marks the true start of the championship season. The path to O'Brien Field is now clearly defined by these times and distances, demanding peak performance at the Sectional level. Success in May 2025 will depend entirely on the commitment to training and the ability to execute when it matters most.
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