1976 United States Olympic trials (track and field)

The 1976 United States Olympic trials for track and field were held June 19–27 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.^[1][2] 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 where 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.

1976 United States Olympic track and field trials
Hayward Field years later
Dates	June 19–27, 1976
Host city	Eugene, Oregon, U.S.
Venue	Hayward Field
Level	Senior
Type	Outdoor
← 1972 1980 →

The trials for the men's marathon was held in Eugene a month earlier on May 22.^[3][4][5] The longest race for women at the 1976 Olympics was the 1500 meters,^[2][6] but eventual Olympic marathoners Joan Benoit, Julie Brown, and Francie Larrieu all participated.^{[citation needed]}

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.