How do athletes get from the first round to the final?
B · Beginner · Rounds, penalties and kit · 7 of 7When there are too many athletes for one race, the event is run in rounds. In each heat the first few finishers go through on place (shown as Q). The remaining spots go to the fastest of the rest (shown as q). Everyone must run every round to reach the final.
How it works
- When rounds are held: "in Track Events in which the number of athletes is too large to allow the competition to be conducted satisfactorily in a single round".
- No byes: "all athletes must compete in, and qualify through, all such rounds".
- The tables: the regulations for each competition set the number of rounds and heats and how many advance by place and by time.
- By place: at least the first and second in each heat should qualify, and where possible at least three.
- By time: the other places go to the fastest athletes who did not qualify by place. Only one system of timing may be used to compare them.
- The marks: Q for qualified by place and q for qualified by time. The glossary entry is Q and q.
- Other ways through: qR means advanced by the referee, qJ by the Jury of Appeal and qD by draw.
- Keeping rivals apart: athletes from the same team, and the best performers, are placed in different heats where possible.
- Staying put: an athlete may run only in the heat and lane in which their name appears.
- Rest between rounds: where practicable, at least 45 minutes for races up to 200 m, 90 minutes for races over 200 m and up to 1000 m, and not on the same day for races over 1000 m.
- Extra rounds: the regulations may add preliminary rounds or repechage rounds.
An athlete who goes through on place is an automatic qualifier.
Tricky cases
An athlete wins their heat in a slow time. Do they go through?
Yes. A qualifying place counts whatever the time.
Can a top-ranked athlete skip the heats?
No. Where qualification rounds are held, all athletes must compete in them and qualify through them.
Two heats were timed by different systems. Can times from both be compared for the q places?
No. Only one system of timing may be applied to athletes qualifying by time.
An athlete is obstructed in a heat and misses out. Can they still reach the next round?
Yes, if the referee or the Jury of Appeal advances them. The results show qR or qJ.
Why the rule exists
Places reward winning the race in front of you. Times give a second chance to athletes drawn in a fast heat. Using both keeps a slow, tactical heat from sending weaker athletes through ahead of stronger ones.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 20.1; TR 20.2; TR 20.7; TR 20.8; TR 20.10 |
| Races longer than 800 m | It is recommended that only a small number qualify by time | TR 20.8 (note) |
| Invitation meetings | Organisers may arrange races and lanes by their own method | TR 20.9 |
| A series of races with no final | The competition's regulations say how the result is decided | TR 20.6 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rule 20 and Competition Rule 25.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).