A total of 778 athletes will qualify to compete. Each nation may enter a maximum of two athletes in each individual event (provided the second person is the reigning 2022 area champion), and one team per relay event. Each event has a maximum number of competitors and a minimum performance standard. Chile as host nation, is granted an automatic athlete slot per event, in the event no one qualifies for that respective event.[2]
The winner of each individual event (plus top two relay teams per event), from four regional qualification tournaments automatically qualified with the standard (even if not reached). If an event quota is not filled, athletes will be invited till the maximum number per event is reached.[2]
For relays, each country can enter two relay only competitors to participate. The other members of each relay team must be registered in an individual event.[2]
Qualifying standards must be achieved between 1 January 2022 and 18 September 2023.[2]
Competition schedule
The competition schedule for athletics at the 2023 Pan American Games is announced.[3]
* Indicates the athlete only competed in the preliminary heats and received medals.
Controversies
Wrong time at the Women's March
The women's 20 kilometres walk was marked by controversy as the official distance was short of 20 kilometres. Kimberly García of Peru won the gold medal in the event originally in a time of 1:12.26, more than nine minutes below the world record.[4] Organizers realized the course was short after the event had been completed.[4] Athletes believed the course was approximately three kilometers short, with the winner Garcia noticing the distance and time were not matching after the first kilometre.[5] Due to the error, the times were erased and athletes could not receive world ranking points towards the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.[4] The organizing committee blamed the error on the Association of Panamerican Athletics and the person who they hired (Marcelo Ithurralde) to accurately measure the course.[6] The executive director of the games, Harold Mayne-Nicholls later claimed the incident was an embarrassment.[6]
^"Pan American Schedule"(PDF). www.panamsports.org. PanAm Sports Committee for the 2023 Pan and Parapan American Games. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
