Age Graded Championships: How it Works
Age grading uses tables of "age factors" and "age standards" to put all runners, regardless of age and sex on a level playing field.
In particular, they allow runners' performances, no matter what their age, to be corrected to what they would have been achieving in their prime years, and permit valid comparisons to be made between people of different ages.
The tables also provide each individual with a percentage value for an event, allowing them to judge their performance against the standard for their age both now, and keep track of their progress over time.
The current tables were compiled by the World Association of Veteran Athletes (WAVA), the world governing body for masters (veterans) track and field, long distance running and race walking. The process involved analysis of masses of actual performance data. Curves were plotted, one for each event, "fitting" all known performances, including, for example, Lynford Cristie's 9.87sec 100m, at age 33, and Priscilla Welsh's 2.26.31 marathon at age 42.
An achievement level of 100% would be approximately the world record level; over 90% would equate to world class; over 80% would be national class and over 70% would be regional class.
How it works
A woman of 53 runs 10k in 45.18.
The 10k factor for women of 53 is .8545.
Therefore, multiply 45.18 (2718 seconds) by .8545, which gives 38.43 as her age-graded time.
The 10k standard (or theoretical world record) for women of 53 is 35.01 (2101 seconds). Divide this by 45.18 (2718 seconds), and you get 77.3% as her age-graded performance.
Ros Young