NZMA Awards

NZMA Athlete of the Year Awards

Now that the Athlete of the Year Awards have been presented for a number of years, the Board has reviewed the guidelines, and will do so regularly. We have tried to strike a balance between the workload required of the organisers and providing a fair system for athletes.

These guidelines endeavour to blend objectivity with a degree of judgement. The Awards cover a calendar year and will be presented at the following year’s National T&F Champs.

1. Competition results that will be recorded by the AotY organisers:

• NZMA Champs – National and Island T&F Champs organised by NZMA

• NZMA Champs – Decathlon, track Mile, 10,000m, and non-stadia Champs organised by ANZ

• WMA Champs, and Regional (Oceania T&F and Australian T&F) Champs

2. Other results

Athletes or Centres may submit performances that meet the requirements to be long-listed at competitions not included in the list above. However, to be eligible for inclusion, the athlete must have competed in at least one competition on the list.

3. Requirements to be long-listed, at least one of the following three:

• Minimum age-graded percentage (AG%)

• Podium position. If an AG% is unavailable (eg, cross-country, wind-assisted sprint) and the performance is of a reasonable standard.

• Record-breaking performance – World, Regional and NZMA/ANZ

4. Judging guidelines, in priority order:

• AG% (if available);

• podium position, taking into account the status and depth of the competition;

• records;

• number and consistency of results.

To work out the age grade percentage for your performances there are several online calculators you can use. A link to the World Masters Rankings Calculator is further below.

Athlete of the Year Categories:

Sprints (up to 400m)	min 85% / 80% for podium flat min 70% / 65% for podium hurdles
Middle (800-3000m)	min 85% / 80% for podium flat min 70% / 65% for podium steeplechase
Distance (up to 10,000m)	min 80% / 75% for podium Road 10000m grading; XC placings
Extra Distance (over 10km)	min 75% / 70% for podium or placings
Walks	min 70% / 65% for podium
Jumps	min 70% / 65% for podium
Throws	min 60% / 55% for podium
Combined	Pentathlon: min 2750 / 2500 for podium Heptathlon: min 3850 / 3500 for podium Decathlon: min 5500 / 5000 for podium

NZMA Athlete of the Year Awards 2024
NOMINATION FORM – 2024 Calendar Year

To assist us with your nomination, please use the AGE GRADE CALCULATOR link below to work out the performance percentage using the World Masters Rankings age factors.

World Masters Rankings Age Percentage Calculator

Please download the form and e-mail your nominations for the 2024 calendar year ASAP to Dale McMillan or Ian Carter by January 10th 2025.

NZMA Colours Awards

NZMA Colours awards are awarded to athletes who:
# Set a world masters record
# Win a world masters title
# Achieve a performance of 95% or better on the WMA percentage tables. This may be revisited as the 2023 age factors generate a lower percentage.

The colours award comprises a NZMA gold brooch with red and black background with the word Colours and the year of the achievement.

NZMA Service and Merit Awards

NZMA Service and Merit awards are available to members who have given service to the association.
All members are eligible and this includes officials or others who have given the service to the association.

Service Award – 10 years of service to NZMA
Merit Award – 20 years of service to NZMA.

Nominations are called for with the notice of the NZMA Annual General meeting and must be submitted through the nominees NZMA centre.
The awards are presented at the NZMA Annual General Meeting or Awards Dinner.

Nominations are the responsibility of each Centre.
Non NZMA members are eligible for Service Awards only.
Nominations for the above awards are required to be submitted by 15 January in the following year.