Biathlon is a multisport discipline that involves running and swimming over various distances for the different age groups. (See points table for age groups and distances.) These two separate disciplines take place at different times on the same day. All athletes will first run their event on the track and after ALL the running numbers have been completed all athletes will swim their events in either a 25m or 50m pool.
Times are recorded for each athlete and points are then allocated according to the times recorded. The ideal will be to achieve at least 1000 points for the running discipline and 1000 points for the swimming discipline to then have a total of at least 2000 points.
Running
For every 1 second slower than the target time, 2 points will be subtracted from your 1000 points, and for every 1 second faster than the target time, 2 point will be added to your 1000 points.
Swimming
For every 1 second slower than the target time, 5 points will be subtracted from your 1000 points, and for every 1 second faster than the target time, 5 points will be added to your 1000 points.
Exception: For u/13 athletes running 800m and swimming 50m, the swim adjustment will be 10 points per second.
Age Calculation
The age of an athlete on 31 December of the year of the SA Championship will determine the age group in which he/she will participate. The duration of a season is from day the after a SA Championships to the next year’s SA Championship.
If you will be 17 on 31 December (after the next SA Championship) you will compete as an under 19 for this season (as you are not UNDER 17 anymore). If you were 16 on that day you will compete as an under 17 for this season.
Bonus points
Bonus points are only awarded to older athletes.
Combined points
Run points + Swim points + Bonus points = 2000 points is minimum combined score that is normally the prerequisite to be eligible for the SA team.