How many trials do field event athletes get, and in what order do they compete?

Under the World Athletics Technical Rules (unless the applicable regulations provide otherwise):

• Athletes compete in an order drawn by lot, with a fresh draw for the final if there is a qualification round.
• Except in the high jump and pole vault, no athlete has more than one trial recorded in any one round.
• With more than eight athletes, each gets three trials and the eight with the best valid performances get three additional trials. To progress, an athlete needs a measured mark from a fair jump or throw in at least one of their first three trials.
• With eight athletes or fewer, each gets six trials. Athletes with no valid trial in the first three rounds compete before those with valid trials, in the same relative order as the original draw.
• The order for later rounds is the reverse of the ranking after the first three rounds, unless regulations provide otherwise. Tied athletes keep their original draw order.
• The governing body's regulations may set the number of trials (no more than six) and how many athletes progress after the third.

At the Australian Athletics Championships, Under 13 to Under 18 athletes get one further trial for the top eight, and Under 20 and Open athletes get three further trials.

Sources: https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/book-of-rules, https://www.athletics.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Australian-Track-and-Field-Championships-Technical-Regulations-2026-04-08.pdf