Source:2023 WMA Age Factors
Factors in yellow updated in 2023 Age Factors.
ABOUT AGE GRADED SCORING
CANADA'S PREMIER MASTERS THROWING CLUB
Age-Graded Scoring
Obviously as a person gets older, performances will naturally decline. To allow older athletes to complete on a level playing field, the concept of age-graded performance was developed to account for this natural decline in performance. The age-graded tablesfollow the same principles as the IAAF points tables for each event but they differ by assigning an age-graded factor for each 5 year age class.
WMA (formerly WAVA), the world governing body for Masters Track & Field, first developed these tables in 1989. Subsequently the tables were updated in 1991, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 & most recently in 2023. WMA regularly updates these tables based on analysis of masters performances around the world. The most recent version released in 2023 can be downloaded at WMA 2023. Note that when comparing older results it is very important to determine what version of table was used in the points calculation & if necessary recalculate old results using the current table. In some cases changes in weights of implements make this very tricky & adjustments have to made to the factors used depending on the weight of the implements.
There are three parts to this calculation: the age-graded mark (AG Mark), the age-graded performance percentage(PERF%) & the age-graded points(PTS).
The first step is to calculate the AG Mark as follows:
AG Mark = Performance x age-graded factor
Examples:
Competitor A - M51 in Hammer throws 41.12m
AG Mark = 41.12 x 1.0911 = 44.86 (48.78 in 2014 tables)
Competitor B - W71 in Discus throws 19.22m
AG Mark = 19.22 x 1.9176 = 36.85 (39.78 in 2014 tables)
Once the AG Mark is calculated, the PERF% is calculated by dividing the World Record by the age factor to give the Age Standard. The PERF% is then ratio of the AG Mark divided by the Age Standard. Current World Records used in the calculation are as follows:
| Hammer | Shot Put | Discus | Javelin | Weight |
| 84.86 | 22.91 | 71.86 | 98.48 | 25.86 |
| Hammer | Shot | Discus | Javelin | Weight |
| 82.98 | 21.24 | 71.41 | 72.28 | 25.60 |
Source: IAAF
Examples:
Competitor A - M51 in Hammer throws 41.12m
AGE STD = World Record/Age Factor
84.86/1.0911 = 77.77
PERF% = (41.12/77.77) x 100% = 52.87%
Competitor B - W71 in Discus throws 19.22m
AGE STD = World Record/Age Factor
71.41/1.9176 = 37.24
PERF% = (19.22/37.24) x 100% = 51.61%
Note that the PERF% allows performances of men & women of all ages to be compared equally. Typical percentages are as follows:
100% = Approximate World-Record Level
90+% = World Class
80+% = National Class
70+% = Regional Class
60+% = Local Class
The final step is to calculate the age-graded points which are used in scoring the throws pentathlon & throws triathlon. Points for each performance are calculated using the IAAF formula:
Points = a (AG Mark - b) ^ c
The factors for a, b and c in the formula in each event for Men & Women are shown in the following tables:
| Event | a (no units) | b (metres) | c (no units) |
| Hammer | 13.0941 | 5.5 | 1.05 |
| Shot Put | 51.39 | 1.5 | 1.05 |
| Discus | 12.91 | 4 | 1.10 |
| Javelin | 10.14 | 7 | 1.08 |
| Weight | 47.8338 | 1.5 | 1.05 |
| Event | a (no units) | b (metres) | c (no units) |
| Hammer | 13.3174 | 5 | 1.05 |
| Shot Put | 56.0211 | 1.5 | 1.05 |
| Discus | 12.3311 | 3 | 1.10 |
| Javelin | 15.9803 | 3.8 | 1.04 |
| Weight | 44.2593 | 1.5 | 1.05 |
Examples: Competitor A - M51 in Hammer throws 41.12m
AG Mark = 44.86
PTS = 13.0941 x (44.86 - 5.5) ^1.05 = 619 pts
Competitor B - W71 in Discus throws 19.22m
AG Mark = 36.85
PTS = 12.3311 x (36.85 - 3) ^1.10 = 593 pts
A typical final scoresheet for a throws pentathlon looks like this:
Note: Example uses 2014 tables
EML Sports in Australia has built an on-line age-grade calculator for multi-events including throws pentathlon. that uses the WMA 2023 tables.