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Please note the difference in comparing unaided course and aided course times or record times and best times:

Unaided versus Aided: USATF Rule 185.5:

(a) The course must not have a net decrease in elevation from start to finish exceeding one part per thousand (i. e., one meter per kilometer)

(b) The start and finish of the race must lie no more than 30% of the race distance apart as measured along the straight line between them, except when it can be shown that the average component of the wind direction at the head of the race (the lead runner) did not consitute a significant tailwind. Note: (a tailwind shall be deemed to be significant if it previals consistently throughout more than 50% of the course during the race.) (Editor’s note: This means that some point-to-point courses would be aided in some cases and unaided in others.)

Records and Best Times: There are no point-to-point records but best times and record times. The best times are those set on courses exceeding 185.5 guidelines or under the old aided course rule and will be published in another section immediately following the record times. Best times are published only if they exceed, and are in addition to, the record times.

If a road race meets the criteria outlined in the REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE RECORDS, individual times that are below the target times will be included in the permanent file of state records.

Age is the basis for comparison for road racing records. The four major divisions and subdivisions are listed below. To determine the minimum time requirements refer to the last entry in the Open and Age Group records and note the time.

OPEN: All distances: All ages eligible and always includes age groups 20-24, 25-29 and 30-34. Any runner, regardless of age, who runs under the minimum times for the Open will be listed in the open category as well as in his/her age group.

JUNIOR: 5 km: Age groups 12 & under, 13-15 and 16-19. 8 km through 15 km: Age groups 15 & under and 16-19. All distances over 15 km: Age groups 19 & under.

SUB-MASTERS: All distances: 35-39 age group only.

MASTERS: All distances: Age groups 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 & over (65 & over female)

The times published represent the fastest INDIVIDUAL times.

The times in this book include events through December 31, 1998.

These rules must be followed by each race director to guarantee accurate results. Performances are not considered if the race does not meet the proper criteria.

Oklahoma/LDR forwards all results to USATF Road Running Information Center for consideration for national records and rankings.

The World Association of Veteran Athletes through an exhaustive and comprehensive study which involved the tracking of times for the Masters taking into consideration the ageing and slowing process has provided an innovative and equitable formula. This formula converts a runner's actual time to an open equivalent time or in theory what a runner would have run in his or her prime. Or more important, it lists the percent of the world class time for each WAVA age-graded time for each age. You will note that the "best performances" in each listing has runners of all ages. This does not replace the regular 5 year age group records.

One important quality of road racing is that great performances are not limited to national, world or Olympic championships, but can happen in any race in the state.

This book lists the complete Oklahoma road race records dating back to 1970, the most comprehensive in the country.

Certified courses and state and course records keeping are very important. An Oklahoma Runner survey indicated that certified courses were top priority by runners when listing the important items in a road race.

Listed below is Oklahoma's Dream Team comprised of the 12 best performing runners in 2000. The word perfomance is emphasized since consideration is given to all runners regardless of age. The selection criteria included such items as participation, Open and age-group wins, state records, etc.