Rules of the World Rankings in Athletics - 2008

 

  1. Basics of the Rankings
  2. Track & Field Events
  3. Combined Events
  4. Road Running
  5. Race Walking
  6. Overall Rankings

  1. Basics of the Rankings

    2. 1.1. Ranking Method

    The ranking system is based on the two main elements of all Track & Field performances, the measured results of athletes and their placings during competitions. Athletes’ performances can be considered in all competitions from grass roots to elite international level. However, the results must be in accordance to the IAAF Rules and Regulations in effect, and the IAAF or one of its Member Federations must have officially ratified the results.

    1.1.1. Result Score

    1. Results Score is awarded for the result achieved by the athlete according to the 2008 editions of the IAAF Scoring Tables of Athletics (by Dr. Bojidar Spiriev).

    2. The initial Result Score may be altered taking into consideration the following factors:

      • Wind reading
      • Hand timing
      • Downhill course (Drop)
      • Point-to-Point course

    3. For disciplines not included in the 2008 editions of IAAF Scoring Tables of Athletics, there are special Scoring Tables developed in full conformity with the IAAF versions.

    1.1.2. Placing Score

    1. Placing Score is awarded for the placing achieved by the athlete at a competition. Competitions are categorized and the Placing Scores are different in each Category.

    2. Placing Scores may be different according to the type of the discipline concerned. Placing Scores are determined separately for Track & Field events, Combined Events, Road Running and Race Walking.

    3. In certain cases Placing Scores may also be different whitin an Event Group, depending on wheather the discipline is a Main Event or a Similar Event.

    1.1.3. Performance Score

    1. Performance Score is obtained by adding the Result Score to the Placing Score:

      • Performance Score = Result Score + Placing score

    2. Only those Performance Scores are considered, which were obtained by the athlete in the 1-year period prior to the date of the Rankings.

    3. In order to put more emphasis on performances achieved closer to the date of the Rankings, there are points deducted from Performance Scores older than 9 months at the date of the Rankings. See Section 2, 3 and 5 for details. There are no such dedaction for Road Running performances.

    1.1.4. Ranking Score

    1. The Rankings are based on Ranking Scores. Athletes are ranked in the Event and Overall Rankings by their Ranking Scores.

    2. The Ranking Score is the average of Performance Scores.

    3. The number of considered Performance Scores vary depending on the particular events. See the different events sections for more details.

    4. In case if an athlete achieves a New World Record or equals the World Record, bonus points are awarded for those performances. These World Record bonus points are added directly to the average of the Performance Scores to increase the Ranking score of the athlete. For details see "Calculating the Ranking Score" at each Section.

    1.2. Rankings

    The World Rankings in Athletics produce Event Rankings and Overall Rankings. The Event Rankings evaluate athletes competing in a single discipline and rank the world's athletes in that specific discipline. The Overall Rankings compare all athletes in all disciplines to rank all the male and female athletes in the world. We do not propose to fully compare men’s and women’s Rankings.

    1.2.1. Event Rankings

    1. The Rankings cover all disciplines of athletics: Individual Track & Field Events, Combined Events, Road Running, Race Walking and the World Cross Country Championships.

    2. Event Rankings are produced in 44 Athletics Events. These Events often consist of a group of disciplines, which are similar to each other. Therefore each Event Group includes a "Main Event" to which may be assimilated one or more "Similar Events".

    3. Performances in each of these 22 men's and women's Event Groups count separately for the Event Rankings. Athletes can be ranked in all the different Event Groups where they achieved enough performances.

    4. Due to the differences between the calculation of the Ranking Scores, the Rules are described in four sections for the Event Rankings:

    1.2.2. Overall Rankings

    1. To determine the world's best athletes, the World Rankings produce Men's and Women's Overall Rankings.

    2. The Overall Rankings are - similarly to the Event Rankings - based on the Performance Scores of the athletes at each competition.

    3. Unlike the Event Rankings, for the calculation of the Ranking Score for the Overall Rankings, athletes can obtain Performance Scores from more than one Event Group.

    4. The details of the ranking process for the Overall Rankings are described in Section 6.

    Back to contents


  2. Track & Field Events

    3. 2.1. Result Score

    2.1.1. Calculating the Result Score

    1. The Result Scores are calculated using the 2008 editions of the IAAF Scoring Tables of Athletics (by Dr. Bojidar Spiriev).

    2. The environment of the competition will determine whether the outdoor or indoor scoring tables have to be used.

    3. For disciplines not included in the 2008 editions of IAAF Scoring Tables of Athletics, there are special Scoring Tables developed in full conformity with the IAAF versions.

    4. The World Rankings consider only performances which are achieved on tracks, jumping or throwing fields certified according to the relevant IAAF Rules.

    5. In running events intermediate splits during a competition cannot be considered as a result for the athlete and thus are not included in the World Rankings.

    2.1.2. Modifying factors to the Result Score

    Two factors may alter the initial Result Scores: a. Wind Reading and b. Hand Timing.

    1. Wind Reading

      2. In order to establish a valid ranking, wind-aided results are included in the ranking. However, as adverse winds also influence the results, the Rankings also take headwinds into account.
      A Wind Modification System has been defined (see Table 2.1) which modifies the Result Scores depending on both the strength and direction of the wind. In case of a headwind it adds points to the Result Score while in case of a tail wind it deducts points from the Result Score.

      The wind modification applies in the following events: Table 2.1: Wind Modification System
      • 100m
      • 200m
      • 100m Hurdles
      • 110mHurdles
      • Long Jump
      • Triple Jump
      Tail Wind Head Wind
      +4 m/s -24 pts -4 m/s +24 pts
      +3 m/s -18 pts -3 m/s +18 pts
      +2 m/s -12 pts -2 m/s +12 pts
      +1 m/s -6 pts -1 m/s +6 pts
      +0 m/s -0 pts -0 m/s +0 pts

      1 m/s wind is equivalent to 6 points according to the IAAF Scoring Tables.
      For wind readings in between those identified in the following table, the allocation of points is ±0.6 points for every ±0.1 m/s (i.e. +0.5 m/s = -3 points)

    2. Hand Timing

      3. The Result Score is calculated after the following figures are added to the hand timed result:

      • 0.24s in distances from 50m to 200m, including Hurdles
      • 0.14s in distances from 300m to 500m, including Hurdles

    2.2. Placing Score

    2.2.1. Calculating the Placing Score

    1. The Placing Score is dependent of the final placing the athlete achieves in a competition. Placing Scores can only be received in the Final of a competition.

    2. In the heats, quarter-finals or semi-finals and in qualifications, athletes obtain only Result Scores with no additional Placing Scores.

    3. There is one exception to the above rule, in the “OW” category (Olympic Games and the IAAF World Outdoor Championships), where Placing Scores may be awarded for placings in the semi-finals. Table 2.3 shows the details.

    4. There are 9 different categories for the purposes of Placing Scores. The Placing Scores obtainable at each competition vary according to the level and significance of the competition. The category “OW” reflects the strongest competitions and consequently awards the most points. For example, the Placing Scores available at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics or in the Olympc Games are much higher than those at any other competition.

    5. For Placing Scores in each Category see Table 2.2, while Table 2.7 shows the Categories of Competitions.

    2.2.2. Placing Score Table

    Table 2.2: Placing Scores for Track & Field Events1
      OW GW GL A B C D E F
    1st 300 200 170 140 100 60 40 25 15
    2nd 260 170 145 120 80 50 35 21 10
    3rd 230 150 130 110 70 45 30 18 5
    4th 210 140 120 100 60 40 25 15
    5th 195 130 110 90 55 35 22 12
    6th 180 120 100 80 50 30 19 10
    7th 165 110 90 70 45 27 17
    8th 150 100 80 60 40 25 15
    9th 100
    10th 90
    11th 80
    12th 70

    1 For Placing Scores of the 10,000m Event Group see point b. in "2.2.3 Special cases".

    2.2.3. Special cases

    1. Placing Scores in the OW Category

      2. In track events up to 800m only 8 athletes compete in the Final, thus additional Placing Scores can be added to the performances achieved in the Semifinal, as shown in Table 2.3.

      Table 2.3
      Position in the Semifinal Placing Scores added to the Result Score
      1st - 8th 1 110 points
      9th 2 100 points
      10th 2 90 points
      11th 2 80 points
      12th 2 70 points
      1 First 8 or qualified for the final
      2 9-12th place decided by time

    2. The 10,000m Event Group

      3. Placing Scores for the events in the 10,000m Event Group are slightly different from the other Track & Field events, due to the fact that in this Event Group there are only 2 performances required for Ranking. To give more emphasis to the Main Event of this Group, there are also different Placing Score tables for the 10,000m (Main Event) and the outdoor 5000m (Similar Event) in this Event Group. Table 2.4 and 2.5 show the details.

      However, in case if the outdoor 5000m counts as a Main Event in the 5000m Event Group, Placing Scores are awarded according to Table 2.2.

      Table 2.4 shows the Placing Scores for the 10,000m while Table 2.5 shows the Placing Scores for the outdoor 5000m when it counts as a Similar Event for the 10,000m Event Group:

      Table 2.4: Placing Scores for 10,000m
        OW GW GL A B C D E F
      1st 230 140 110 80 60 45 30 20 10
      2nd 200 120 90 70 50 38 22 14 6
      3rd 180 105 75 60 45 32 18 10 3
      4th 160 90 65 50 40 26 16 8
      5th 145 80 55 45 35 22 14 7
      6th 130 70 50 40 30 19 12 6
      7th 120 60 45 35 25 17 11
      8th 110 50 40 30 20 15 10
      9th 70
      10th 60
      11th 50
      12th 40

      Table 2.5: Placing Scores for outdoor 5000m when Similar Event1
        OW GW GL A B C D E F
      1st 80 60 45 30 20 10
      2nd 70 50 38 22 14 6
      3rd 60 45 32 18 10 3
      4th 50 40 26 16 8
      5th 45 35 22 14 7
      6th 40 30 19 12 6
      7th 35 25 17 11
      8th 30 20 15 10

      1 In case if the outdoor 5000m counts as a Main Event in the 5000m Event Group, Placing Scores are awarded according to Table 2.2: Placing Scores for Track & Field Events.

    3. Cross Country

      4. Due to the substantial differences between courses, athletes are awarded straight Performance Scores (see Table 2.6).

      Only the IAAF World Cross Country Championships are taken into account for the Rankings. Table 2.6 shows the Performance Scores awarded for the first 24 placed athletes in the Senior race and the first 8 placed athletes in the Junior race.

      Table 2.6: Performance Scores for Cross Country
      Senior Race Junior Race
      1st 1350 9th 1120 17th 1091 1st 1120
      2nd 1330 10th 1116 18th 1088 2nd 1100
      3rd 1310 11th 1112 19th 1085 3rd 1085
      4th 1290 12th 1108 20th 1082 4th 1070
      5th 1270 13th 1104 21st 1079 5th 1060
      6th 1250 14th 1100 22nd 1076 6th 1050
      7th 1230 15th 1097 23rd 1073 7th 1045
      8th 1210 16th 1094 24th 1070 8th 1040

    2.2.4. Categories of Competitions

    In individual Track & Field events Placing Scores, as described in Tables 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 are distributed according the following categorisation of competitions:

    Table 2.7: Categories of Competitions for Track & Field Events
    Sign  Competitions
    OW  Olympic Games
     IAAF World Championships
    GW  IAAF World Athletics Final
     IAAF World Indoor Championships
     IAAF World Cross Country Championships
    GL  IAAF World Cup
     IAAF Golden League Meetings
     All-African Games
     Asian Games
     European Championships
     Pan American Games
    A  IAAF Super Grand Prix Meetings
     Continental Indoor Championships
     African Championships, Asian Championships, South American Championships
     Commonwealth Games
    B  IAAF Grand Prix Meetings
     National Outdoor Championships
     Francophone Games, Ibero-American Championships, CAC Championships
     Universiade
     IAAF Indoor Permit Meetings
     European Cup Super League and European 10,000m Cup
    C  IAAF World Athletics Tour Qualifying Area Permit Meetings
     Balkan Games, Pan-Arab Games, Mediterranean Games, CAC Games
     European Cup 1st League
     Area Permit Indoor Meetings
     IAAF World Junior Championships, IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships
     Continental Championships for under 23 years
     NCAA Div. I Outdoor Championships
     Eberstadt High Jump Meeting
    D  Area Permit Outdoor Meetings
     National Indoor Championships
     European Cup 2nd League
     CISM World Military Games
     Other regional international championships, games and cups (first and senior division only)
     Continental Club Championships (first division only)
     Continental Junior Championships
     Other Traditional International Meetings
     IAAF World Youth Championships
     International outdoor matches
    E  International indoor matches
     NCAA Div. I Indoor Championships
     Other (national permit) international meetings (indoor/outdoor)
    F  Other meetings and competitions

    2.3. Calculating the Ranking Score

    When calculating the Ranking Score the following factors are considered:

    • Event Groups, Main Events and Similar Events (2.3.1.)
    • Required number of performances for Ranking (2.3.2.)
    • Date of the results and date correction (2.3.3.)
    • World Record performances (2.3.4.)

    2.3.1. Event Groups, Main Events and Similar Events

    1. Track & Field Event Rankings (not inlcuding Combined Events) are produced in 36 Event Groups. See Table 2.8 for details.

    2. Performances in each of the 36 Event Groups count separately for the Event Rankings.

    3. Athletes can be ranked in all the different Event Groups where they achieved sufficient number of performances.

    Table 2.8: Event Groups
    Nr. Event Group Main Event Similar Events
    1. Men's 100m 100m 50m, 55m, 60m
    2. Men's 200m 200m 200m indoor
    3. Men's 400m 400m 300m, 300m indoor, 400m indoor, 500m1, 500m indoor
    4. Men's 800m 800m 600m, 600m indoor, 800m indoor, 1000m, 1000m indoor
    5. Men's 1500m 1500m 1500m indoor, Mile, Mile indoor, 2000m, 2000m indoor
    6. Men's 5000m 5000m 3000m, 3000m indoor, 2 Miles, 2 Miles indoor, 5000m indoor
    7. Men's 10,000m 10,000m 5000m, Cross Country (WCH only)
    8. Men's 110mH 110mH 50mH, 55mH, 60mH
    9. Men's 400mH 400mH -
    10. Men's 3000mSC 3000mSC 2000mSC, 2000mSC indoor1, 3000mSC indoor1
    11. Men's High Jump High Jump High Jump indoor
    12. Men's Pole Vault Pole Vault Pole Vault indoor
    13. Men's Long Jump Long Jump Long Jump indoor
    14. Men's Triple Jump Triple Jump Triple Jump indoor
    15. Men's Shot Put Shot Put Shot Put indoor
    16. Men's Discus Throw Discus Throw -
    17. Men's Hammer Throw Hammer Throw -
    18. Men's Javelin Throw Javelin Throw -
    19. Women's 100m 100m 50m, 55m, 60m
    20. Women's 200m 200m 200m indoor
    21. Women's 400m 400m 300m, 300m indoor, 400m indoor, 500m1, 500m indoor
    22. Women's 800m 800m 600m, 600m indoor, 800m indoor, 1000m, 1000m indoor
    23. Women's 1500m 1500m 1500m indoor, Mile, Mile indoor, 2000m, 2000m indoor
    24. Women's 5000m 5000m 3000m. 3000m indoor, 2 Miles, 2 Miles indoor, 5000m indoor
    25. Women's 10,000m 10,000m 5000m, Cross Country (WCH only)
    26. Women's 100mH 100mH 50mH, 55mH, 60mH
    27. Women's 400mH 400mH -
    28. Women's 3000mSC 3000mSC 2000mSC, 2000mSC indoor1, 3000mSC indoor1
    29. Women's High Jump High Jump High Jump indoor
    30. Women's Pole Vault Pole Vault Pole Vault indoor
    31. Women's Long Jump Long Jump Long Jump indoor
    32. Women's Triple Jump Triple Jump Triple Jump indoor
    33. Women's Shot Put Shot Put Shot Put indoor
    34. Women's Discus Throw Discus Throw -
    35. Women's Hammer Throw Hammer Throw -
    36. Women's Javelin Throw Javelin Throw -

    1 Only performances achieved after 1 January 2008 are considered for the World Rankings.

    2.3.2. Required number of performances

    1. In order to be ranked, athletes must collect sufficient number of Performance Scores and some of them must come from Main Events.

    2. The minimum number of Performance Scores are as follows:

      • In all Event Groups, except Men's and Women's 10,000m (Nr.7 & Nr.25), the minimum number of Performance Scores are five (5).

      • In Men's and Women's 10,000m Event Groups (Nr.7 & Nr.25) the minimum number of Performance Scores are two (2).

    3. The minimum number of Main Events are as follows:

      • In all Event Groups, except Men's and Women's 10,000m (Nr.7 & Nr.25), the minimum number of Main Events are three (3).

      • In Men's and Women's 10,000m Event Groups (Nr.7 & Nr.25) the minimum number of Main Event is one (1).

    4. Athletes, whose perfromances do not comply with the above restrictions, cannot have a valid Ranking Score, and are thus ineligible for ranking.

    2.3.3. Date of results and date correction

    1. Only those Performance Scores can be considered for ranking, which were obtained by the athlete in the 1-year period pior to the date of the Ranking.

    2. In order to put more emphasis on performances achieved closer to the date of the Rankings, there are certain amount of points deducted from Performance Scores older than 9 months at the date of the Rankings. The deduction of points are the following:

      • 10th month prior to the date of the Rankings: -20 points deducted from the Performance Score
      • 11th month prior to the date of the Rankings: -40 points deducted from the Performance Score
      • 12th month prior to the date of the Rankings: -60 points deducted from the Performance Score

    3. To avoid overweighting, competitions in the OW and GW Categories are only included until the last edition of the Rankings published before the following year's similar type of competition, regardless of the one-year rule. (e.g. Performances from the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka will be considered for the last time in those Rankings which will be the last editions before the Olympic Games in Beijing.)

    2.3.4. World Record performances

    1. World Record bonus points are given as an extra reward for the obvious promotional value and significance of such performance. World Record bonus points are added to the average of Performance Scores in such way that they directly increase the Ranking Score of the athlete.

    2. World Record bonus points are awarded for each world record performance achieved by the athlete in the last one-year period, regardless of the fact that the performance is included in the Ranking calculation or not.

    3. World Record bonus points are given as follows:

      4. Main Events

      • New World Record = 10 bonus points added to the average of Performance Scores
      • Equalling the World Record = 5 bonus points added to the average of Performance Scores

      Similar Events

      • New World Record = 6 bonus points added to the average of Performance Scores
      • Equalling the World Record = 3 bonus points added to the average of Performance Scores

    Back to contents


  3. Combined Events

    4. 3.1. Result Score

    3.1.1. Calculating the Result Score

    1. The Result Scores are calculated using the 2008 editions of the IAAF Scoring Tables of Athletics (by Dr. Bojidar Spiriev).

    2. The environment of the competition will determine whether the outdoor or indoor scoring tables have to be used.

    3. The World Rankings consider only performances which are achieved on tracks, jumping or throwing fields certified according to the relevant IAAF Rules.

    3.2. Placing Score

    3.2.1. Calculating the Placing Score

    1. The Placing Score is dependent of the final placing the athlete achieves in a competition. Placing Scores can only be received in the Final of a competition.

    2. There are 9 different categories for the purposes of Placing Scores. The Placing Scores obtainable at each competition vary according to the level and significance of the competition. The category “OW” reflects the strongest competitions and consequently awards the most points. For example, the Placing Scores available at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics or in the Olympc Games are much higher than those at any other competition.

    3. For Placing Scores in each Category see Table 3.1, while Table 3.2 shows the Categories of Competitions.

    3.2.2. Placing Score Table

    Table 3.1: Placing Scores for Combined Events
      OW GW GL A B C D E F
    1st 230 140 110 80 60 45 30 20 10
    2nd 200 120 90 70 50 38 22 14 6
    3rd 180 105 75 60 45 32 18 10 3
    4th 160 90 65 50 40 26 16 8
    5th 145 80 55 45 35 22 14 7
    6th 130 70 50 40 30 19 12 6
    7th 120 60 45 35 25 17 11
    8th 110 50 40 30 20 15 10
    9th 70
    10th 60
    11th 50
    12th 40

    3.2.3. Categories of Competitions

    In Combined Events Placing Scores, as described in Table 3.1, are distributed according the following categorisation of competitions:

    Table 3.2: Categories of Competitions for Combined Events
    Sign  Competitions
    OW  Olympic Games
     IAAF World Championships
    GW  IAAF World Indoor Championships
    GL  All-African Games
     Asian Games
     European Championships
     Pan American Games
    A  Continental Indoor Championships
     African Championships, Asian Championships, South American Championships
     Commonwealth Games
     Götzis Combined Events Meeting
    B  National Outdoor Championships
     Francophone Games, Ibero-American Championships, CAC Championships
     Universiade
     European Cup Super League
     Combined Events Meetings: Arles, Desenzano del Garda, Ratingen, Talence
    C  Balkan Games, Pan-Arab Games, Mediterranean Games, CAC Games
     European Cup 1st League
     Area Permit Indoor Meetings
     IAAF World Junior Championships
     Continental Championships for under 23 years
     NCAA Div. I Outdoor Championships
    D  Area Permit Outdoor Meetings
     National Indoor Championships
     European Cup 2nd League
     CISM World Military Games
     Other regional international championships, games and cups (first and senior division only)
     Continental Junior Championships
     Other Traditional International Meetings
     International outdoor matches
    E  International indoor matches
     NCAA Div. I Indoor Championships
     Other (national permit) international meetings (indoor/outdoor)
    F  Other meetings and competitions

    3.3. Calculating the Ranking Score

    When calculating the Ranking Score the following factors are considered:

    • Event Groups, Main Events and Similar Events (3.3.1.)
    • Required number of performances for Ranking (3.3.2.)
    • Date of the results and date correction (3.3.3.)
    • World Record performances (3.3.4.)

    3.3.1. Event Groups, Main Events and Similar Events

    1. Combined Event Rankings are produced in 2 Event Groups. Table 3.3 shows the details:

    Table 3.3: Event Groups
    Nr. Event Group Main Event Similar Events
    1. Men's Decathlon Decathlon Heptathlon indoor
    2. Women's Heptathlon Heptathlon Pentathlon indoor

    3.3.2. Required number of performances

    1. In order to be ranked, athletes must collect sufficient number of Performance Scores and some of them must come from Main Events.

    2. The minimum number of Performance Scores are as follows:

      • In both Event Groups, the minimum number of Performance Scores are two (2).


    3. The minimum number of Main Events are as follows:

      • In both Event Groups, the minimum number of Main Events is one (1).


    4. Athletes, whose perfromances do not comply with the above restrictions, cannot have a valid Ranking Score, and are thus ineligible for ranking.

    3.3.3. Date of results and date correction

    1. Only those Performance Scores can be considered for ranking, which were obtained by the athlete in the 1-year period pior to the date of the Ranking.

    2. In order to put more emphasis on performances achieved closer to the date of the Rankings, there are certain amount of points deducted from Performance Scores older than 9 months at the date of the Rankings. The deduction of points are the following:

      • 10th month prior to the date of the Rankings: -20 points deducted from the Performance Score
      • 11th month prior to the date of the Rankings: -40 points deducted from the Performance Score
      • 12th month prior to the date of the Rankings: -60 points deducted from the Performance Score

    3. To avoid overweighting, competitions in the OW and GW Categories are only included until the last edition of the Rankings published before the following year's similar type of competition, regardless of the one-year rule. (e.g. Performances from the 2007 IAAF World Championships in Osaka will be considered for the last time in those Rankings which will be the last editions before the Olympic Games in Beijing.)

    3.3.4. World Record performances

    1. World Record bonus points are given as an extra reward for the obvious promotional value and significance of such performance. World Record bonus points are added to the average of Performance Scores in such way that they directly increase the Ranking Score of the athlete.

    2. World Record bonus points are awarded for each world record performance achieved by the athlete in the last one-year period, regardless of the fact that the performance is included in the Ranking calculation or not.

    3. World Record bonus points are given as follows:

      4. Main Events

      • New World Record = 10 bonus points added to the average of Performance Scores
      • Equalling the World Record = 5 bonus points added to the average of Performance Scores

      Similar Events

      • New World Record = 6 bonus points added to the average of Performance Scores
      • Equalling the World Record = 3 bonus points added to the average of Performance Scores

    Back to contents


  4. Road Running

    5. 4.1. Result Score

    4.1.1. Calculating the Result Score

    1. The Result Scores are calculated using the 2008 editions of the IAAF Scoring Tables of Athletics (by Dr. Bojidar Spiriev).

    2. For disciplines not included in the 2008 editions of IAAF Scoring Tables of Athletics, there are special Scoring Tables developed in full conformity with the IAAF versions.

    3. The World Rankings consider only performances which are achieved on courses certified according to the relevant IAAF Rules.

    4. Only properly measured courses could be included in the World Rankings. Race distances have to be measured either by an IAAF /AIMS course measurer, or have to be approved by the competent Member Federation.

    5. Intermediate splits during a road race cannot be considered as a result for the athlete and thus are not included in the World Rankings.

    4.1.2. Modifying factors to the Result Score

    To avoid disregarding performances achieved on a course not fully comply with the criteria, laid down in 4.1.1. b. and c. points, two factors may alter the initial Result Scores: a. Downhill course and b. Point-to-Point course.

    1. Downhill course

      • For performances achieved on a course which has a net drop (decrease in elevation) of more than 1 m/km, a "Downhill Modification System" has been developed to include those performances.

      • A net drop of 1 m/km of the race distance is equivalent to 6 points according to the IAAF Scoring Tables (or the alternate Scoring Tables in case of events that are not inlcuded in the IAAF Scoring Tables).

      • These points are deducted from the initial Result Scores of the athletes at the competition concerned.

      • There is no deduction if the net drop is whithin the allowed 1 m/km.

      • Over the net drop of 1 m/km every 0.1 m/km is equal to 6 + 0.6 points for each 0.1 m/km. (e.g. 1.1 m/km = - 6.6 points; 1.2 m/km = -7.2 points)

    2. Point-to-Point course

      • Breaching the 50% rule in Point-to-Point courses will result in a fix penalty of 12 points deducted from the Results Scores of the athletes at the competition concerned.

    4.2. Placing Score

    4.2.1. Calculating the Placing Score

    1. The Placing Score is dependent of the final placing the athlete achieves in a competition.

    2. There are 9 different categories for the purposes of Placing Scores. The Placing Scores obtainable at each competition vary according to the level and significance of the competition. The category “OW” reflects the strongest competitions and consequently awards the most points. For example, the Placing Scores available at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics or in the Olympic Games are much higher than those at any other competition.

    3. Men's and women's road races are categorised separately, see Tables 4.5 and 4.6

    4. In Road Running there are different Placing Score Tables for the two Event Groups, see Tables 4.2-4.4 in point 4.2.2. for details.

    4.2.2. Placing Score Tables

    1. The Marathon Event Group

      2. To give more emphasis to the Main Event of this Group, there are different Placing Score tables for the Marathon (Main Event) and the Half-Marathon, 25km and 30km (Similar Events).

      Table 4.2 shows the Placing Scores for Marathon, while Table 4.3 shows the Placing Scores for the Similar Events of this group.

      Table 4.2: Placing Scores for Marathon
        OW GW GL A B C D E F
      1st 230 200 170 125 80 45 25 15 10
      2nd 200 170 140 100 60 35 21 12 6
      3rd 180 150 120 90 50 30 18 8 3
      4th 160 140 100 80 40 25 15 6
      5th 145 130 90 70 35 22 12 4
      6th 130 120 80 60 30 19 9 3
      7th 120 110 70 50 25 17 6
      8th 110 100 60 40 20 15 3
      9th 70 50
      10th 60 40
      11th 50 35
      12th 40 30
      13th 36
      14th 33
      15th 30
      16th 27
      17th 24
      18th 21
      19th 18
      20th 15

      Table 4.3: Placing Scores for Half Marathon1, 25km and 30km
        OW GW GL A B C D E F
      1st 80 60 45 30 20 10
      2nd 70 50 38 22 14 6
      3rd 60 45 32 18 10 3
      4th 50 40 26 16 8
      5th 45 35 22 14 7
      6th 40 30 19 12 6
      7th 35 25 17 11
      8th 30 20 15 10
      9th 25
      10th 20
      11th 15
      12th 10

      1 In case if the Half Marathon counts as a Main Event in the Road Running Event Group, Placing Scores are awarded according to Table 4.4 in point b. The Road Running Event Group.


    2. The Road Running Event Group

      3. In the Road Running Event Group there is only one Placing Score Table, valid for all events in this group.

      Table 4.4: Placing Scores for the Road Running Event Group
        OW GW GL A B C D E F
      1st 230 140 110 80 60 45 30 20 10
      2nd 200 120 90 70 50 38 22 14 6
      3rd 180 105 75 60 45 32 18 10 3
      4th 160 90 65 50 40 26 16 8
      5th 145 80 55 45 35 22 14 7
      6th 130 70 50 40 30 19 12 6
      7th 120 60 45 35 25 17 11
      8th 110 50 40 30 20 15 10
      9th 70 45
      10th 60 40
      11th 50 35
      12th 40 30


    4.2.4. Categories of Competitions

    For Road Running events the Categories of Competitions are determined separatly for men's and women's races. Table 4.5 shows the categorisation of men's road races, while Table 4.6 shows the categorisation of women's road races.

    Table 4.5: Categories of Competitions - Men's Road Running
    Sign  Competitions
    OW  Olympic Games
     IAAF World Championships
    GW  IAAF World Road Running Championships
    GL  All-African Games
     Asian Games
     European Championships
     Pan American Games
     International Marathons: Berlin (GER), Boston (USA), Chicago (USA), London (GBR), New York (USA)
     International Half Marathons: Berlin (GER), Lisbon Meia Maratona de Lisboa (POR), Milano Stramilano (ITA), Paris (FRA), Rotterdam (NED)
    A  African Championships, Asian Championships, South American Championships
     Commonwealth Games
     International Marathons: Amsterdam (NED), Fukuoka (JPN), Hamburg (GER), Paris (FRA), Roma (ITA), Rotterdam (NED), Seoul JongAng (KOR)
     International Half Marathons: Den Haag City Pier City (NED), Lille (FRA), New York City (USA), South Shields Great North Run (GBR)
     International Road Races: Cape Elizabeth Beach to Beacon (USA, 10 km), Manchester Great Run (GBR, 10 km), San Juan World’s Best 10K (PUR, 10 km)
    B  National Championhips in Main Events
     Francophone Games, Ibero-American Champioships, CAC Championships
     Universiade
     International Marathons: Beijing (CHN), Dubai (UAE), Eindhoven (NED), Frankfurt (GER), Milano (ITA), Otsu Lake Biwa (JPN), Seoul Dong-A (KOR), Tokyo (JPN)
     International Half Marathons: Ivry-sur-Seine Humarathon (FRA), New Delhi (IND), Philadelphia (USA), Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), Sapporo (JPN), Udine (ITA), Virginia Beach (USA)
     International Road Races: Amsterdam Dam to Dam (NED, 10M), Atlanta Peachtree (USA, 10 km), Nijmegen Zevenhueuvelenloop (NED, 15km), Paris Internationale de Houilles (FRA, 10 km), Washington Cherry Blossom (USA, 10M)
    C  Balkan Games, Pan-Arab Games, Mediterranean Games, CAC Games
     International Marathons: Belgrade (SRB), Beppu Oita (JPN), Carpi Memorial Enzo Ferrari (ITA), Dublin (IRL), Enschede Twente (NED), Köln (GER), Madrid (ESP), Mumbai Standard Chartered (IND), Nagano Commemorative (JPN), Ottawa (CAN), Padova (ITA), Prague (CZE), Reims (FRA), San Diego (USA), Torino (ITA), Toronto Waterfront (CAN), Treviso (ITA), Venezia (ITA), Vienna (AUT), Xiamen (CHN), Zürich (SUI)
     International Half Marathons: Austin (USA), Azkoita-Azpeitia (ESP), Breda (NED), Brisbane Gold Coast (AUS), Boulogne-Billancourt (FRA), Kyoto (JPN), Lisbon Meia Maratona de Portugal (POR), Marugame (JPN), Nice (FRA), Oloron (FRA), Prague (CZE), Reims (FRA), Remich Route du Vin (LUX), Roma-Ostia (ITA), San José (USA), Sevilla (ESP), St. Denis (FRA), Yamaguchi (JPN)
     International Road Races: Alphen aan den Rijn (NED, 20 km), Berlin 25 km (GER, 25 km), Brunssum Parelloop (NED, 10 km), Dongio Giro Media Blenio (SUI, 10 km) Groesbek Zwitserloot Dak Run (NED, 10 km), Heerenberg Montferland Run (NED, 15 km), Kosa (JPN, 10M), Kumamoto (JPN, 30 km), Marseille 10 km du Conseil General (FRA, 10 km), Mobile Azalea Trail Run (USA, 10 km), New Orleans Crescent City Classic (USA, 10 km), New York Healthy Kidney (USA, 10 km), Paderborn Osterlauf (GER, 10 km), Paris (FRA, 20 km), Portsmouth Great South Run (GBR, 10M), Tilburg 10 Miles (NED, 10M), Utica Boilermaker (USA, 15 km), Würzburg Residenzlauf (GER, 10 km)
    D  National Championhips in Similar Events
     Continental Clubs Cup
     International Marathons: Athens Classic (GRE), Austin (USA), Barcelona (ESP), Brescia (ITA), Brussel (BEL), Düsseldorf Rhein (GER), Firenze (ITA), Houston (USA), Istanbul (TUR), Kosice Peace (SVK), La Rochelle (FRA), Los Angeles (USA), Marrakesh (MAR), Mombasa (KEN), Nairobi (KEN), Nashville (USA), Nobeoka (JPN), Pyongyang (PRK), Sapporo Hokkaido (JPN), Tempe Rock’n’Roll Arizona (USA), Torreon La Laguna (MEX), Trieste (ITA), Valencia (ESP), Warszawa (POL)
     International Half Marathons: Bath (GBR), Boston BAA (USA), Bristol (GBR), Cape Town (RSA), Egmond aan Zee (NED), Eldoret (KEN), Ferrara Corriferrara (ITA), Guadalajara (MEX), Glasgow Great Scottish Run (GBR), Göteborg (SWE), Granollers (ESP), Houston (USA), Indianapolis (USA), Klagenfurt (AUT), Monterrey (MEX), Muscat (OMN), Paderborn (GER), Pavia (ITA), Pila (POL), Prato (ITA), Rio de Janeiro (BRA), Saltillo Coahuila (MEX), Sendai (JPN), Tarsus (TUR), Torino (ITA), Trith St. Leger (FRA), Zwolle (NED)
     International Road Races: Appingedam Stadsloop (NED, 10 km), Basel Stadtlauf (SUI, 10 km), Bern Grand Prix (SUI, 10M), Bishop Auckland Castle (GBR, 10 km), Bolzano Corsa di San Silvestre (ITA, 10 km), Boulder International Challenge (USA, 10 km), Charleston Cooper River Bridge Run (USA, 10km), Dublin Great Ireland Run (IRL, 10 km), Fiumicino Best Women’s (ITA, 10 km), Flint Crim Festival of Races (USA, 10M), Gualtieri (ITA, 10 km), Jacksonville Gate River Run (USA, 15 km), Kerzers Lauf (SUI, 15km), Korschenbroich Citylauf (GER, 10 km), Le Puy-en-Velay (FRA, 15 km), Lisbon Sao Silvestre da Amadora (POR, 10 km), Madrid Trofeo José Cano (ESP, 10 km), Madrid San Silvestre Vallecana (ESP, 10 km), Maroilles (FRA, 20 km), Marseille 10 km la Provence (FRA, 10 km), Montereau (FRA, 10 km), Nice Prom Classic (FRA, 10 km), Ottawa Race Weekend (CAN, 10 km), Park Forrest Scenic (USA, 10M), Porto Corrida Festas da Cidade do Porto (POR, 15 km), Prague (CZE, 10 km), Roanne Tout Court (FRA, 10 km), Santos Tribuna (BRA, 10 km), Sao Paulo Corida de Sao Silvestre (BRA, 15 km), Scicli Memorial Peppe Greco (ITA, 10 km), Toronto Sporting Life (CAN, 10 km), Vancouver Sun Run (CAN, 10 km), Voorthuizen Loopfestijn (NED, 10 km)
    E  Other International Marathons, Half Marathons and Road Races
    F  Other Marathons, Half Marathons and Road Races

    Table 4.6: Categories of Competitions - Women's Road Running
    Sign  Competitions
    OW  Olympic Games
     IAAF World Championships
    GW  IAAF World Road Running Championships
    GL  All-African Games
     Asian Games
     European Championships
     Pan American Games
     International Marathons: Berlin (GER), Boston (USA), Chicago (USA), London (GBR), New York (USA)
     International Half Marathons: Lisbon Meia Maratona de Lisboa (POR), Philadelphia (USA), Sapporo (JPN), South Shields Great North Run (GBR)
    A  African Championships, Asian Championships, South American Championships
     Commonwealth Games
     International Marathons: Hamburg (GER), Nagoya (JPN), Osaka (JPN), Paris (FRA), Roma (ITA), Seoul Dong-A (KOR), Tokyo (JPN)
     International Half Marathons: Berlin (GER), New Delhi (IND), New York City (USA), Okayama (JPN)
     International Road Races: Cape Elizabeth Beach to Beacon (USA, 10 km), Manchester Great Run (GBR, 10 km), New York Mini Marathon (USA, 10 km), San Juan World’s Best 10K (PUR, 10 km)
    B  National Championhips in Main Events
     Francophone Games, Ibero-American Champioships, CAC Championships
     Universiade
     International Marathons: Amsterdam (NED), Beijing (CHN), Frankfurt (GER), Nagano Commemorative (JPN), Rotterdam (NED), San Diego (USA)
     International Half Marathons: Glasgow Great Scottish Run (GBR), Ivry-sur-Seine Humarathon (FRA), Milano Stramilano (ITA), Paris (FRA), Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), San José (USA), Udine (ITA), Virginia Beach (USA), Yamaguchi (JPN)
     International Road Races: Amsterdam Dam to Dam (NED, 10M), Atlanta Peachtree (USA, 10 km), New Orleans Crescent City Classic (USA, 10 km), Nijmegen Zevenhueuvelenloop (NED, 15km)
    C  Balkan Games, Pan-Arab Games, Mediterranean Games, CAC Games
     International Marathons: Carpi Memorial Enzo Ferrari (ITA), Dublin (IRL), Houston (USA), Istanbul (TUR), Milano (ITA), Mumbai Standard Chartered (IND), Pyongyang (PRK), Sapporo Hokkaido (JPN), Torreon La Laguna (MEX), Venezia (ITA), Xiamen (CHN)
     International Half Marathons: Austin (USA), Brisbane Gold Coast (AUS), Bristol (GBR), Egmond aan Zee (NED), Göteborg (SWE), Kobe (JPN), Lille (FRA), Lisboa Meia Maratona de Portugal (POR), Marugame (JPN), Matsue (JPN), Miyazaki (JPN), Prague (CZE), Paderborn (GER), Reims (FRA), Remich Route du Vin (LUX), Roma-Ostia (ITA), Rotterdam (NED), Sendai (JPN)
     International Road Races: Boston Tufts 10K (USA, 10 km), Casablanca (MAR, 10 km), Glasgow Women’s 10K (GBR, 10 km), Madrid San Silvestre Vallecana (ESP, 10 km), Marseille 10 km du Conseil Général (FRA, 10 km), Mobile Azalea Trail Run (USA, 10 km), Ottawa Race Weekend (CAN, 10 km), Paderborn Osterlauf (GER, 10 km), Portsmouth Great South Run (GBR, 10M), Sunderland Great Women’s Race (GBR, 10 km), Tilburg (NED, 10 km), Utica Boilermaker (USA, 15 km), Washington Cherry Blossom (USA, 10M), Würzburg Residenzlauf (GER, 10 km)
    D  National Championhips in Similar Events
     Continental Clubs Cup
     International Marathons: Athens Classic (GRE), Austin (USA), Belgrade (SRB), Dubai (UAE), Duluth (USA), Düsseldorf Rhein (GER), Honolulu (USA), Jeonju Gunsan (KOR), Köln (GER), Las Vegas (USA), Los Angeles, (USA), Nashville (USA), Ottawa (CAN), Padova (ITA), Prague (CZE), Reims (FRA), Singapore Standard Chartered (SIN), Tempe Rock’n’Roll Arizona (USA), Sacramento California International (USA), St. Paul (USA), Torino (ITA), Toronto Waterfront (CAN), Treviso (ITA), Vienna (AUT), Zürich (SUI)
     International Half Marathons: Albacete (ESP), Azpeitia (ESP), Bath (GBR), Boston BAA (USA), Boulogne-Billancourt (FRA), Breda (NED), Cape Town (RSA), Den Haag City Pier City (NED), Granollers (ESP), Guadalajara (MEX), Houston (USA), Indianapolis (USA), Klagenfurt (AUT), Kyoto (JPN), Muscat (OMN), Monterrey (MEX), Naples (USA), Oloron (FRA), Rio de Janeiro (BRA), Saltillo Coahuila (MEX), San Diego America’s Finest City (USA), Sevilla (ESP), St. Denis (FRA), Tarsus (TUR), Torino (ITA), Uster (SUI)
     International Road Races: Alphen aan den Rijn (NED, 20 km), Bern Grand Prix (SUI, 10M), Bishop Auckland Castle (GBR, 10 km), Boulder International Challenge (USA, 10 km), Brunssum Parelloop (NED, 10 km), Charleston Cooper River Bridge Run (USA, 10km), Dublin Great Ireland Run (IRL, 10 km), Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon (IRL, 10 km), Düsseldorf Kö-Lauf (GER, 10 km), Edinburgh Great Caledonian Run (GBR, 10 km), Fiumicino Best Women’s (ITA, 10 km), Flint Crim Festival of Races (USA, 10M), Groesbek Zwitserloot Dak Run (NED, 10 km), Gualtieri (ITA, 10 km), Heerenberg Montferland Run (NED, 15 km), Jacksonville Gate River Run (USA, 15 km), Kerzers Lauf (SUI, 15km), Langueux (FRA, 10 km), Le Puy-en-Velay (FRA, 15 km), Lisbon Sao Silvestre da Amadora (POR, 10 km), Madrid Trofeo José Cano (ESP, 10 km), Maroilles (FRA, 20 km), Marseille 10 km la Provence (FRA, 10 km), Montereau (FRA, 10 km), Nice Prom Classic (FRA, 10 km), Paris (FRA, 20 km), Okayama (JPN, 10 km), Paris Internationale de Houilles (FRA, 10 km), Park Forrest Scenic (USA, 10M), Porto Corrida Festas da Cidade do Porto (POR, 15 km), Roanne Tout Court (FRA, 10 km), Sao Paulo Corida de Sao Silvestre (BRA, 15 km), Toronto Sporting Life (CAN, 10 km), Torreon Carrera Victoria (MEX, 10 km), Voorthuizen Loopfestijn (NED, 10 km)
    E  Other International Marathons, Half Marathons and Road Races
    F  Other Marathons, Half Marathons and Road Races

    4.3. Calculating the Ranking Score

    When calculating the Ranking Score the following factors are considered:

    • Event Groups, Main Events and Similar Events (4.3.1.)
    • Required number of performances for Ranking (4.3.2.)
    • Date of the results (4.3.3.)
    • World Record performances (4.3.4.)

    4.3.1. Event Groups, Main Events and Similar Events

    1. The Road Running Event Rankings are produced in 4 Event Groups. See Table 4.7 for details.

    2. Performances in each of the 4 Event Groups count separately for the Event Rankings

    3. Athletes can be ranked in the different Event Groups where they achieved sufficient number of performances.

    Table 4.7: Event Groups
    Nr. Event Group Main Event Similar Events
    1. Men's Road Running Half Marathon and/or 10 km 5 km1, 10 km, 15 km, 10 MIles, 20km
    2. Men's Marathon Marathon Half Marathon, 15 Miles1, 25 km, 30 km, 20 Miles1
    3. Women's Road Running Half Marathon and/or 10 km 5 km1, 10 km, 15 km, 10 MIles, 20km
    4. Women's Marathon Marathon Half Marathon, 15 Miles1, 25 km, 30 km, 20 Miles1

    1 Only performances achieved after 1 January 2008 are considered for the World Rankings.

    4.3.2. Required number of performances

    1. In order to be ranked, athletes must collect sufficient number of Performance Scores and some of them must come from Main Events.

    2. The minimum number of Performance Scores are as follows:

      • In Men's and Women's Road Running Event Groups (Nr.1 & Nr.3) the minimum number of Performance Scores are three (3).

      • In Men's and Women's Marathon Event Groups (Nr.2 & Nr.4) the minimum number of Performance Scores are two (2).

    3. The minimum number of Main Events are as follows:

      • In Men's and Women's Road Running Event Groups (Nr.1 & Nr.3) the minimum number of Main Events are two (2).

      • In Men's and Women's Marathon Event Groups (Nr.2 & Nr.4) the minimum number of Main Event is one (1).

    4. Athlet