St. Louis is about to become the center of the distance running world. The city is set to host the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on March 25, 2028, with the Greater St. Louis Marathon following on March 26, 2028, a two-day stretch that organizers say will pair high-stakes Olympic team selection with a big-tent community race. Local running clubs, race directors and city officials are already trading route ideas, building volunteer rosters and polishing sponsorship pitches as they gear up for an influx of elite athletes and recreational runners. The setup also means recreational runners will have a chance to cover portions of the trials course the day before the pros compete, organizers say.
Official Announcement And Dates
The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials were formally awarded to St. Louis, with the elite race scheduled for March 25, 2028, and national television coverage planned on NBC, according to Runner's World. The winning bid edged out a competing proposal from Phoenix and makes these trials the first U.S. Olympic team selection event connected to the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
A Course Built To Separate Contenders And Welcome The Community
Course designers are putting together a deliberately rolling layout with plenty of undulation and hills, intended to “help separate winners” by rewarding strong climbers and late-race grinders. The planned route sends elite runners past Washington University’s Francis Olympic Field and through sections of Forest Park before finishing inside Energizer Park. GO! St. Louis president Mona Vespa told St. Louis Public Radio that likely weather patterns and the city’s natural terrain were key factors in shaping the course. St. Louis Run Club founder Ricky Hughes said local groups are already mapping out volunteer stations and community outreach so the weekend feels welcoming to both recreational runners and Olympic hopefuls.
Money And Logistics
Race organizers say they are budgeting more than $2 million to stage the trials and are actively lining up additional public and private support to cover production and security costs, according to St. Louis Public Radio. Marc Schreiber, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, told the outlet that Emerson provided significant financial backing that helped secure the event, and that the committee will soon dive into permitting and large-scale volunteer recruitment. Planners also intend to fold segments of the trials course into the Greater St. Louis Marathon route on March 26 so everyday runners can sample some of the same streets a day before the pros take their shot at the Olympic team.
Who Will Run And How They Qualify
USA Track & Field is targeting a field of roughly 200 runners per gender for the trials, with many athletes expected to hit qualifying marks at other races during the preceding two-year window, Runner's World reported. For the local scene, that translates into a rare chance to watch Olympic hopefuls race through familiar streets and to mobilize thousands of volunteers for timing, hydration and course safety. Clubs, race directors and the St. Louis Sports Commission say they plan to launch more formal volunteer and neighborhood outreach campaigns in the coming months.
What’s Next
Officials say a final, detailed course map and formal permit requests will roll out later this year as organizers lock in safety plans, traffic control and broadcast logistics. The Washington Post notes that the route is expected to showcase many of the city’s landmarks and that Jackie Joyner-Kersee is co-chairing the local organizing committee. Between now and 2028, top priorities include closing out sponsorship deals, building a deep volunteer base and coordinating with city public-safety partners. For now, St. Louis runners and race volunteers are treating the announcement like a marathon-sized call to the start line.
