Key points
- AAU hurdle races start at age 11 (80m hurdles at 30″).
- 13- and 14-year-old boys run the 100m hurdles at 33″ in AAU (USATF uses 36″).
- 15–18 boys run the 110m at 39″ and 400m at 36″; girls run the 100m at 33″ and 400m at 30″.
- Indoors, AAU runs the 55m hurdles with 5 hurdles.
Governing body: Amateur Athletic Union
Last reviewed against source:
AAU uses single-year age divisions for 11–14 and two-year divisions for 15–16 and 17–18. The handbook lists no hurdle races for 10-and-under divisions.
AAU outdoor hurdle specifications
| Event | Division | Hurdles | Height | Start to H1 | Between | Last H to finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80m Hurdles | 11 years Girls | 8 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 12.00 m | 7.50 m | 15.50 m |
| 80m Hurdles | 11 years Boys | 8 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 12.00 m | 7.50 m | 15.50 m |
| 80m Hurdles | 12 years Girls | 8 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 12.00 m | 7.50 m | 15.50 m |
| 80m Hurdles | 12 years Boys | 8 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 12.00 m | 7.50 m | 15.50 m |
| 100m Hurdles | 13 years Girls | 10 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 10.50 m |
| 100m Hurdles | 13 years Boys | 10 | 33″ (0.838 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 10.50 m |
| 200m Hurdles | 13 years Girls | 5 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 20.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
| 200m Hurdles | 13 years Boys | 5 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 20.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
| 100m Hurdles | 14 years Girls | 10 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 10.50 m |
| 100m Hurdles | 14 years Boys | 10 | 33″ (0.838 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 10.50 m |
| 200m Hurdles | 14 years Girls | 5 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 20.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
| 200m Hurdles | 14 years Boys | 5 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 20.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
| 100m Hurdles | 15–16 years Girls | 10 | 33″ (0.838 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 10.50 m |
| 110m Hurdles | 15–16 years Boys | 10 | 39″ (0.991 m) | 13.72 m | 9.14 m | 14.02 m |
| 400m Hurdles | 15–16 years Girls | 10 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 45.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
| 400m Hurdles | 15–16 years Boys | 10 | 36″ (0.914 m) | 45.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
| 100m Hurdles | 17–18 years Girls | 10 | 33″ (0.838 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 10.50 m |
| 110m Hurdles | 17–18 years Boys | 10 | 39″ (0.991 m) | 13.72 m | 9.14 m | 14.02 m |
| 400m Hurdles | 17–18 years Girls | 10 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 45.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
| 400m Hurdles | 17–18 years Boys | 10 | 36″ (0.914 m) | 45.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m |
AAU indoor hurdle specifications (55m hurdles)
| Event | Division | Hurdles | Height | Start to H1 | Between | Last H to finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55m Hurdles | 11 years Girls | 5 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 12.00 m | 7.50 m | 13.00 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 11 years Boys | 5 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 12.00 m | 7.50 m | 13.00 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 12 years Girls | 5 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 12.00 m | 7.50 m | 13.00 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 12 years Boys | 5 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 12.00 m | 7.50 m | 13.00 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 13 years Girls | 5 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 8.00 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 13 years Boys | 5 | 33″ (0.838 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 8.00 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 14 years Girls | 5 | 30″ (0.762 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 8.00 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 14 years Boys | 5 | 33″ (0.838 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 8.00 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 15–16 years Girls | 5 | 33″ (0.838 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 8.00 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 15–16 years Boys | 5 | 39″ (0.991 m) | 13.72 m | 9.14 m | 4.72 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 17–18 years Girls | 5 | 33″ (0.838 m) | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 8.00 m |
| 55m Hurdles | 17–18 years Boys | 5 | 39″ (0.991 m) | 13.72 m | 9.14 m | 4.72 m |
AAU vs. USATF: what’s different?
AAU and USATF both run youth Junior Olympic programs, and their hurdle setups are similar, but not identical:
| AAU | USATF | |
|---|---|---|
| Age divisions 11–14 | Single years (11, 12, 13, 14) | Two-year (11–12, 13–14) |
| 13–14 boys 100mH height | 33″ | 36″ (since 2025) |
| 80m, 200m, 110m, 400m | Same heights and spacing as USATF in the divisions listed | Same |
See USATF hurdle heights for the full USATF table.
Coaching notes for AAU hurdlers
- 80m hurdlers (11–12) often benefit from practice at reduced spacing before racing 7.50 m. See the training spacing calculator.
- Moving from 13–14 to 15–16 is a big jump for boys (33″ 100mH to 39″ 110mH with longer spacing). Build up gradually in the season before.
- Girls moving to 15–16 go from 30″ to 33″, and from the 200m hurdles to the 400m hurdles.
Use the Hurdle Height & Spacing Calculator to look up a single division.
Next stepHurdle Height & Spacing CalculatorHeight, hurdle count, spacing and run-in for any division, with sources.