1. What is WMA Age Grading?

The WMA (World Masters Athletics) Age Grading system allows athletes to compare their performance against the world record for their age and gender. It provides a percentage score that indicates how close you are to the world record performance for your age group.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the WMA Age Grade formula:

Where:

• \( Age\ Standard \) — World record time for your age/gender (minutes)
• \( Time \) — Your actual race time (minutes)

Explanation: The equation compares your performance against the age-standard world record, with 100% representing a world record performance.

3. Importance of Age Grading

Details: Age grading allows fair comparison of performances across different age groups and genders. It's particularly useful for masters athletes to track their performance relative to world standards as they age.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the age standard time (available from WMA tables) and your actual 5K time in minutes. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Where can I find age standard times?
A: Official WMA age standard tables are available on the World Masters Athletics website.

Q2: What is a good age grade percentage?
A: Over 90% is world class, 80-90% is national class, 70-80% is regional class, and 60-70% is local class.

Q3: Does this work for distances other than 5K?
A: Yes, but you need to use the appropriate age standard times for each distance.

Q4: How often are age standards updated?
A: WMA updates standards periodically as world records are broken.

Q5: Can I use this for training purposes?
A: Yes, age grading can help track your performance improvements relative to your age group over time.