Masters Track News and Muse

Age Graded Tables finally arrive! And we have 'em

WMA veep Rex Harvey today sent me this Microsoft Excel file (updated 5/18/06 to fix M55 shot factor) containing the Age Graded Tables -- factors for multiplying your times or distances to see how they compare with marks in the "Open Class" (generally 20- to 30-year-olds) or any other age group. Officially, these tables are used only for age-grading the multi-events (decathlon, heptathlon, pentathlon, etc.) in the masters world championships. Unofficially, they decide winners in road races, handicap track sprints and a zillion other events -- sometimes with cash at stake. So this is big. And long overdue.

All events and age groups are listed, from 50 meters to 200 kilometers. Plus all the throwing events and jumps. The file can be converted to other formats and exported to other software tools.

I've been following the sorry odyssey of these tables for a while. The gist is this:

The first tables appeared in 1989 and were revised in 1994. But hundreds of age-group records have been set since then, necessitating a major revision. Part of the reason that the revisions are long delayed is a theft that occurred in Long Island, New York. On May 6, 2003, Harvey was checking out of a motel when, among other items, his laptop computers were pilfered. Gone were the age-graded tables –- and the only backup copy.

So it's taken three years to re-create the tables, which involved negotiations between the LDR and T&F factions of masters athletics.

These tables also will be published in booklet form and published by National Masters News. Cost of the hard copy -- which includes a history of the AGT and instructions on their use -- will be reasonable, since the object is to make the tables available as widely as possible.

But the new tables will make it possible for webgeeks to design online forms that allow you to plug in your numbers and click a SUBMIT button to generate your age-graded performance, and also see its age-graded percentage (where 100 percent is world-record level, 90 percent is world-class, 80 percent is national class, and 70 percent is me most of the time -- regional class.)

Canadian hurdle star Jess Brewer has one such lookup form, but it's based on the 1994 tables. (I'll make sure he hears about the new set.)

I haven't analyzed the new AGT to determine the winners and losers. But I guarantee as many people will be unhappy with the new tables as pleased. That's because some events/age grouos will find it "tougher" to score high on the tables. Others will find their marks given more prestige.

Chem 'em out, and let me know where y'all fall in this spectrum.

Meanwhile, mega thanks to Rex and his WMA committee for bringing this project to fruition -- and a finale.

Posted by kenstone at May 3, 2006 7:06 PM