RECORDS CRITERIA

Australian ultra records – overview

AUTRA recognises Australian Open and Age Group records for ultra‑distance road and track events in line with the 3.8 Records – Criteria and Applications Policy (Version 1, Revised 22 December 2025).

This page summarises the key criteria and how to apply for a record. For full details, including definitions, shoe rules, walking guidance, timing and anti‑doping requirements, refer to Policy 3.8 (download) and the Record Application Form (Appendix A - PDF DOC).

Age groups and events

AUTRA recognises Open and the following Age Group categories for records: 18–19 (U20, from 3 July 2024 onwards), 20–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, 80–84, 85–90.

Records are recognised for these ultra‑distance events (men and women, Open and Age Group):

Distance races: 50km, 100km, 200km, 500km, 1000km, 50 miles, 100 miles, 500 miles, 1000 miles
Timed races: 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 6 days

As at 31 December 2014, the list of Australian Open and Age Group records was frozen and can only be amended where credible evidence shows an error or other justification. From 1 January 2015, a record can be superseded if an athlete records a faster time or longer distance on a compliant track/road surface.

Eligibility and citizenship

To be eligible for an Australian Open or Age Group record, an athlete must:

Be an Australian citizen
Be a current financial AUTRA member before lodging a record application
Provide proof of date of birth and citizenship (e.g. passport, birth certificate)

Dual citizens must not:

Apply for or claim a record for the same performance with another national federation, or
Hold a timed or distance record from the same race in another country and an Australian record for the same performance.

Athletes who have represented another country must comply with World Athletics Policy C3.2 (Eligibility to Represent a Member), including a three‑year waiting period before they can claim Australian records. No performance is considered an Australian record until it has been ratified by AUTRA.

How to apply for a record

The athlete is responsible for initiating any record claim; records are not automatic.
Applications must be lodged within 6 months of the race start date.
Download and complete the Record Application Form (Appendix A PDF DOC) and email it to records@autra.asn.au, including event details, age category, AUTRA membership confirmation, proof of date of birth and citizenship, and the required shoe declaration.
The Race Director and officials must complete the Race Director’s Certification Form (Appendix B PDF DOC) and submit it directly to the AUTRA Records Officer with course certificates, results, lap sheets, timing evidence, referee reports and any IAU Label certificate.

The athlete must also ensure the Race Director submits their documentation to support the claim.

Event, course and timing requirements

For a performance to be eligible for an Australian record:

The event must comply with WA/IAU rules and relevant national regulations.
Australian races must be AUTRA‑listed and IAU‑labelled; overseas races must be listed by the host federation and also IAU‑labelled.
A minimum of three athletes of the same gender must participate “in good faith” in the race; only one athlete is required in the specific age group.
Road races must use an AIMS Grade A or B measured course with elevation drop ≤ 1m/km and start–finish separation less than 50% of course length.
Track races must be held on a WA Class 1 or 2 certified facility listed on the WA Certified Facilities List.
Timing systems must have at least two years of operational use and be backed up by manual timing or a secondary automatic system.
A race referee must be on site for the duration of the event, and lap recording and calculations must be available for fixed‑time and multi‑lap races.
For AUTRA‑sanctioned Australian National Championships and 6‑day races in Australia, a redundancy timing mat is required; for other events it is strongly recommended.

Intermediate and multi‑day records

In fixed‑distance events (e.g. 50km, 100km), intermediate distance records are only recognised if the athlete completes the full race distance.
In fixed‑time events (e.g. 6h, 12h, 24h), intermediate distances or times can be recognised without completing the full event duration.
For intermediate distance/time records, lap recording sheets and time‑ and date‑stamped photographs (including stopwatch images) must be provided.
In multi‑day events, the athlete’s age on the date the race starts determines the age group for any records set during that event.

Shoe requirements

For 50km and 100km, shoes must comply with World Athletics Article 5.3 and appear on the WA “List of approved athletics shoes”.
For other ultra‑distance events, any commercially available shoe is allowed provided the sole thickness is ≤ 40mm, there is a maximum of one carbon plate, and the shoe is not a prototype (“development shoe”).
All record applications must include a shoe declaration (brand, model, version); AUTRA may request additional evidence and may decline or annul records where non‑compliant shoes are used.

Walkers and running records

Where an event only has a running category, walkers may enter as runners, share the course and may have their performances recognised as running records if all other criteria are met.
Where an event has a separate walking category and dedicated walking lane, performances in the walking lane are treated as walking results only and are not eligible for running records.

Anti‑doping and world/continental records

IAU World Records Guidelines require doping control for WR at 50km and 100km and IAU WR at 50 miles, 100 miles, 6h, 12h, 24h and 48h.
For IAU Oceania Continental Best Performances (CBP) at 50km, 100km and 24h, tests are required and backdated to 1 January 2019.
IAU World Age Best Performances (WABP) do not require drug testing, and Australian Age Group records may be recognised without testing where all other criteria are met.
Any athlete attempting an Open World or Continental Record must undergo doping control immediately after the race or within 24 hours of finishing.
AUTRA’s default position is that the athlete bears the cost of testing, unless AUTRA has agreed in writing to fund or subsidise tests for a specific event.

APPLY FOR A RECORD RECORDS CRITERIA