The USA Triathlon Board of Directors reaffirmed at the November 2002 board meeting that in order to be included in the Age Group National Rankings, all athletes competing in USAT sanctioned events must compete in their respective age group to receive credit for that race for their ranking.  
 
The USAT rule that applies is 3.2a, which says, “all age group athletes must participate and compete in the age group division corresponding to the athlete’s actual age on the date of the event.”
 
If an athlete chooses to compete at a sanctioned event in any special race- specific category grouping which offers a start group or other course modification other than those designated by USAT as Age Groups, then that athlete forfeits the opportunity to have that race count towards their age group ranking.  These groups typically have been “Open”, “Elite”, “Clydesdale/Athena” among the more common.  The intent of this rule is to make race-day competition a level playing field for all participants receiving credit for that race in the year-end USAT Age Group National Rankings.