In yesterday’s ACTVAC handicap results I have included the AST%
figures, and will do so in future, because they are an
interesting way of comparing the times of each runner which
takes their age into account. What are AST percentages? AST
stands for “Age Standard Times”. They are calculated against the
actual age of each competitor in an event. In 1989 the World
Association of Veteran Athletes (WAVA) developed the first age-
graded tables in one-year age increments and they have since
been updated. The tables are composed of world class standards
as a function of both age and distance. That means that for
every age starting at age 8 and going to age 100 there are
standards for every long distance running event, for every
common track & field event, and for race walking. Using the data
in the tables it is possible to determine an age graded time (as
seen in the results of the Australian Masters Championships in
Hobart) and the equivalent percentage (as provided yesterday and
with most ACTVAC results.) Here’s an