1. What is WMA Age Grading?

The WMA (World Masters Athletics) Age Grading system allows athletes to compare their performance with others of different ages and genders. It provides a percentage score that indicates how close the performance was to the world record for that age and distance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the WMA Age Grading formula:

Where:

• \( Age\ standard \) — The world record time for your age group (minutes)
• \( Time \) — Your actual performance time (minutes)

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

3. Importance of Age Grading

Details: Age grading allows fair comparison between athletes of different ages and genders, helps track performance improvements over time, and provides motivation by showing how close you are to world-class standards.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the age standard time (available from WMA tables) and your actual performance 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 for various distances and events.

Q2: What is a good age grading 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 all running distances?
A: Yes, as long as you have the correct age standard time for your specific distance and age group.

Q4: How often are age standards updated?
A: WMA typically updates age standards every few years to reflect current world records.

Q5: Can I use this for other sports?
A: This calculator is specific to running. Other sports may have different age grading systems.