Both championships were held one week before their respective 1952 United States Olympic trials, with the exception of the men's 10,000 m which served as both the U.S. championships and Olympic selection event. There were winds up to 10 miles per hour (16 km/h) impacting the men's races and jumps.[1] In the women's competition, Catherine Hardy became the first sprinter to win all three short sprints, sweeping the 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m.[2]