Athletics / Guide 08

Heats, qualification and ties

World Athletics · 2026
Last checked: 18 October 2026
Source: World Athletics Competition Rules C1.1 and Technical Rules C2.1 — amendments through 1 July 2026 · Source pages: 76–83, 96
In short

Moving to the next round · Equal performances

On this pageMoving to the next roundEqual performances

Moving to the next round

The competition announces the number of rounds and how athletes qualify by place, time or an authorised repechage. Seeding and lane draws follow the event's rules. A fast performance alone does not guarantee advancement if the published qualification method requires something different.

Equal performances

For a last qualifying place based on time, officials examine actual photo-finish times to 0.001 second. If still equal, tied athletes advance when space allows; otherwise lots decide who advances. An inseparable finishing tie can remain. Field-event qualifying performances do not carry into the final, which starts as a new competition.

Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Independent explanations of the supplied World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules, including amendments through 1 July 2026. Event-specific regulations may add conditions. References use PDF viewer page numbers; guide numbers are editorial.
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