3. COMBINED EVENTS

3.1. RANKING METHOD

In force from 1 January 2024.

The ranking system is based on the two main elements of all Athletics performances: the measured results of athletes (result score) and their placing during competitions (placing score).

The combination of these elements provides the athletes’ performance for each competition in which they participate (performance score).

RESULT SCORE + PLACING SCORE = PERFORMANCE SCORE

Athletes’ performances can be considered in all competitions from grass roots to elite international level. However, the results must be in accordance with the World Athletics Rules and Regulations in force, and World Athletics or one of its Area Associations or Member Federations must have officially ratified the results.

3.2. RESULT SCORE

1. The Result Scores are calculated using the latest editions of the World Athletics Scoring Tables of Athletics (by Dr. Bojidar Spiriev) which can be found here.
2. The environment of the competition will determine whether the outdoor or indoor scoring tables must be used.
3. The World Rankings consider only results which were achieved at a competition conducted according to the World Athletics Rules.
4. Results achieved with underage equipment or implements (in hurdles and throwing events), are not considered for the Rankings.
5. The initial Result Score may be altered taking into consideration the following factor:
   • Wind reading

3.2.1. Wind Reading

1. In order to establish a valid ranking, wind-aided results are included in the ranking.
2. If one of the wind readings exceeds +4.0 m/s AND the average of all wind readings exceeds +2.0 m/s, 24 points are deducted from the Result Score.
3. If there is no wind information available in any or all of the individual events (NWI), 24 points are deducted from the Result Score.

3.3. PLACING SCORE

1. Placing Score is awarded for the placing achieved by the athlete at a competition.
2. Competitions are categorised, and the Placing Scores are different in each Category. There are 10 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 World Athletics Championships or at the Olympic Games are much higher than those at any other competition. See 3.4 - Categorisation of Competitions.>
3. In Area Championships, Games and National Championships Placing Scores can only be awarded to athletes representing their Area and Home Country respectively. Athletes representing a foreign Member Federation or other Areas are regarded as out of competition participants (OC) and only receive Result Scores for their performances, regardless of their original position indicated in the official results of the competition.
4. In case a competition belongs to more than one Category, the most favourable Placing Score is considered for each athlete based on the positions achieved in the different classifications.

Table 3.1. Placing Scores for Combined Events

3.4. CATEGORIES OF COMPETITIONS

Placing Scores are distributed according to the categorisation of competitions, subject to the following:

1. World Athletics has the exclusive right to determine to which Category a given competition should be assigned. Categorisation of Area Permit competitions (Championships, Games and invitation meetings) will be agreed with the corresponding Area Association. Specific national permit competitions (other than National Senior Championships) will be placed in category E as designated by the Member Federation in agreement with, and subject to quotas established by World Athletics. All other national permit competitions are placed in category F.
2. During a calendar year, only one National Senior Championships per each Member Federation can award Placing Scores according to the Categorisation as shown below. In case a Member Federation organizes more than one National Championships, or an equivalent type of competition (e.g. trials), in any discipline within one calendar year, the first such competition is regarded as the National Championships unless the MF informs World Athletics otherwise, prior to the beginning of the season.
3. Only those events of a competition are entitled to receive the Category as listed below – and thus the corresponding Placing Scores – which are held primarily for the purpose of the competition for which the corresponding Category was awarded. Extra or supplementary events, national or youth events during international invitational meetings, etc. are considered as Category F regardless of the Category of the main competition during which the event was held.

Table 3.2. Categories of Competitions and scoring according to Discipline

* Only events awarding official Prize Money in accordance with the Tour Regulations

3.5. PERFORMANCE SCORE

The Performance Score is obtained by adding the Result Score to the Placing Score:

Result Score + Placing Score = Performance Score

3.6. EVENT GROUPS, MAIN EVENTS AND SIMILAR EVENTS

Combined Event Rankings are produced in 2 Event Groups.

Table 3.3. Combined Events Event Groups

3.7. REQUIRED NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES

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

3.7.1 Minimum number of Performance Scores

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

3.7.2. Minimum number of Performance Scores in the Main Events

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

3.8. RANKING PERIOD

1. Only those Performance Scores are considered, which were obtained by the athlete in an 18 months period prior to the date of the Rankings.
2. To avoid overweighting, for competitions in the OW Category, the previous edition of the same OW category competition will be included in the Rankings with GL category Placing Scores until it is within the 18 months period. E.g., performances from the 2022 World Athletics Championships will score with GL category Placing Scores once the 2023 World Athletics Championships results are processed.
3. In order to ensure that performances achieved at the Area Senior Outdoor Championships are calculated in the Rankings, the latest editions of the Area Senior Outdoor Championships are included in the Rankings calculation regardless of whether they fall in the Events’ respective Ranking Period, given that they were held within 3 full calendar years (e.g. after 1st January in the 3rd year prior to the date of the Rankings).

3.9. WORLD RECORD BONUS

In case an athlete achieves a New World Record, or equals the World Record, bonus points are given as an extra reward for the obvious significance and promotional value of such performance. These World Record bonus points are added directly to the average of the Performance Scores to increase the Ranking Score of the athlete.

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

World Record bonus points are given as follows:

1. Main Events
   • New World Record = 20 bonus points added to the average of Performance Scores
   • Equalling the World Record = 10 bonus points added to the average of Performance Scores
2. Similar 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

3.10. RANKING SCORE

1. The Rankings are based on the Ranking Scores. Athletes are ranked in the Event Rankings by their Ranking Scores.
2. The Ranking Score is the average of Performance Scores.
3. In order to be ranked, athletes must collect a sufficient number of Performance Scores and some of them must come from Main Events. Athletes who do not collect enough performances, cannot have a valid Ranking Score, and are thus ineligible for ranking. See details for each Event Group in the corresponding section.
4. When calculating the Ranking Score the following factors are considered:
   • Event Groups, Main Events and Similar Events
   • Required number of performances for Ranking
   • Ranking period
   • World Record performances
5. Tie break in case of same Ranking Score
   In case two or more athletes have equal Ranking Scores, the tie for their Ranking position will be resolved in favour of the athlete with the best Performance Score. If the best Performance Scores are also equal, then the second best Performance Scores decide, and so on. If all Performance Scores used to make up the athlete's Ranking Score are equal, then the tie is not broken and the athletes remain ranked in the same position.