The short answer
NAIA publishes two outdoor qualifying marks per event: the A standard, which secures a spot at the national championships, and the easier B standard, which fills the remaining field by descending order. For 2026 the men's 100m A is 10.33 and B is 10.42; the women's are 11.65 and 11.85.
Key takeaways
- NAIA uses two marks per event: A (locks a spot) and B (fills the field by ranking)
- Men's 100m: A 10.33, B 10.42. Women's 100m: A 11.65, B 11.85 (2026)
- Standards are based on a 400m track; altitude and track-size conversions apply
- Hand times are not accepted in events 200 meters or shorter
- Combined events (decathlon, heptathlon) take the top 16 declared athletes
- These are championship marks, not recruiting standards
How NAIA qualifying works: A vs B standards
NAIA publishes two qualifying marks for every outdoor event. The A standard is the harder mark, and hitting it secures your place at the national championships. The B standard is more forgiving, and a B mark puts you in the pool that fills the rest of the field by descending order once the A qualifiers are in. So an A is a guaranteed ticket; a B is a strong position in line.
This two-tier system is different from Division I (no posted marks at all) and cleaner than Division II (provisional only). It rewards athletes who chase the A but still leaves a real path for those who land a B in a thinner event. All marks below are the 2025-26 NAIA outdoor standards, last verified in 2026 from the NAIA Track and Field Coaches Manual.
2025-26 NAIA outdoor standards (men): A / B
Based on a 400m track. FAT required; hand times not accepted at 200m or shorter.
| Event | Men's A | Men's B |
|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 10.33 | 10.42 |
| 200 m | 20.83 | 21.13 |
| 400 m | 47.16 | 47.57 |
| 800 m | 1:50.59 | 1:51.92 |
| 1500 m | 3:49.00 | 3:51.00 |
| 5000 m | 14:22.00 | 14:35.00 |
| 10,000 m | 30:29.00 | 30:53.00 |
| 110 m hurdles | 14.20 | 14.47 |
| 400 m hurdles | 52.53 | 53.53 |
| 3000 m steeplechase | 9:15.00 | 9:23.00 |
| High jump | 2.09 m | 2.06 m |
| Pole vault | 4.90 m | 4.80 m |
| Long jump | 7.42 m | 7.37 m |
| Triple jump | 15.08 m | 14.60 m |
| Shot put | 16.79 m | 16.17 m |
| Discus | 52.00 m | 49.36 m |
| Hammer | 58.72 m | 54.77 m |
| Javelin | 62.45 m | 58.60 m |
2025-26 NAIA outdoor standards (women): A / B
| Event | Women's A | Women's B |
|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 11.65 | 11.85 |
| 200 m | 23.90 | 24.49 |
| 400 m | 55.09 | 56.45 |
| 800 m | 2:11.26 | 2:13.91 |
| 1500 m | 4:28.00 | 4:35.00 |
| 5000 m | 16:59.00 | 17:19.00 |
| 10,000 m | 36:17.00 | 37:06.00 |
| 100 m hurdles | 13.85 | 14.19 |
| 400 m hurdles | 1:01.58 | 1:03.34 |
| 3000 m steeplechase | 11:02.00 | 11:19.00 |
| High jump | 1.70 m | 1.67 m |
| Pole vault | 3.78 m | 3.68 m |
| Long jump | 5.93 m | 5.78 m |
| Triple jump | 12.03 m | 11.72 m |
| Shot put | 14.14 m | 13.47 m |
| Discus | 47.73 m | 44.73 m |
| Hammer | 54.19 m | 51.08 m |
| Javelin | 42.79 m | 40.94 m |
Two marks, two outcomes
An A standard secures your spot at the NAIA national championships. A B standard places you in the descending-order pool that fills the remaining lanes after A qualifiers are seated. The 4x100 A is 40.55 (men) and 46.36 (women).
Source: NAIA Track and Field Coaches Manual 2025-26
How the field actually fills
After the qualifying window closes, NAIA seats every athlete who hit the A standard. Then it works down the B-qualifier list, in descending order, until each event reaches its field size. That is why a B is worth real money in a thin event and worth less in a deep one: in a stacked event, the A qualifiers alone can nearly fill the field, and only the fastest B marks make it.
Combined events run differently. The decathlon and heptathlon take the top 16 declared athletes off their scoring lists rather than using A and B marks. Relays use the same A and B logic as individual events, with the field filled by the best teams.
Conversions: track size, altitude, and timing
NAIA outdoor standards are set on a 400-meter track, and the association applies the current USTFCCCA conversion factors for altitude and track size before comparing a mark to the standard. A few timing rules are strict and worth memorizing.
- Hand times are not accepted in events 200 meters or shorter. Report a hand time as a hand time; never convert it to FAT.
- FAT marks are reported to the hundredth; hand times to the tenth.
- Altitude and track-size conversions can adjust a mark up or down toward the standard.
- Marks must come from sanctioned meets that meet NAIA reporting requirements through the official window.
Aim past the B
Because B qualifiers fill the field by ranking, a B is only as safe as the event is shallow. In sprints and mid-distance, plan to chase the A or a fast B, not the minimum B.
Source: NAIA outdoor selection structure
NAIA qualifying vs NAIA recruiting
These A and B marks are what it takes to reach the NAIA national championships as an athlete already on a roster. They are not recruiting standards. NAIA programs recruit athletes who are well off these marks, because the NAIA development curve is real and many athletes hit their A standard as juniors or seniors, not as freshmen. If you are a prospect, look at recruiting guidance, not this chart. If you are already competing for an NAIA school and trying to make nationals, these are your numbers.
Using the standards if you are between B and A
The gap between a B and an A is small, usually a tenth in the sprints or a few centimeters in the jumps and throws. That is technique territory, not just fitness. A sharper start, a cleaner hurdle clearance, or a better release angle is often the difference between a B in the pool and an A in the lane. Film it, find the leak, fix the phase, and the A comes within range.