[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.

Many athletes had sacrificed their eligibility to run professionally, others made the attempt and were in transition to regain their amateur status.

The trials for the men's marathon was held in Eugene a month earlier on May 22.

[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.