Triathlon Japan (TRIJ) Age Group Ranking System

What is the TRIJ Age Group National Championship Series (NCS) Ranking System?

Triathlon Japan (TRIJ) runs an Age Group Ranking System (2026エイジNCS) which awards an annual ranking of athletes in each of the 5-year age bands, starting at under 24, and then 25-29, 30-34, etc. These days it goes right up to 90-94! There are separate rankings for sprint distance (SP), Olympic (standard) distance (SD) and for long distance (LD). 

How are the points calculated?

Sprint and Standard Distance

Ranking is based on points earned at each race. For sprint and standard distance, points start at 1000 points for first place in each age group, and then drop by a certain number of points for every minute behind the winner. For Sprint Distance this is 30 points/min and  for Olympic Distance it is 15 points/min. Annual points total is based on your 4 best races for Olympic distance and your 3 best races for sprint distance. The final race of the season is the National Championships held in Miyazaki (Nov 15th, 2026) which earns 1100 points for the winner, thus reducing the chances of a draw.

Long Distance

Long Distance includes both middle and long distance races. The winner of each age group in middle distance races earns 1000 points, but the winner of long distance races earns 1100 points. Thus, in the case of Sado, the winner of Sado A earns 1100 points, while the winner of Sado B earns 1000 points. Points then drop by 3 points/min for each subsequent placing. Annual points total is based on your 3 best races. The winner of the National Championships (Nov 22nd, 2026) earns 1200 points.

The system is very complicated with lots of rules, variations and exceptions, but for most age group races it will work like this.

How do you qualify for the National Championships?

Since 2018, there have been National Championships held in Miyazaki at the end of the season for Olympic distance and since 2022 for sprint distance. In 2025, the first long distance National Championships were held in November in Kin, Okinawa. To qualify for the national championships, you either have to win your age group at a ranking race or finish in the top 10 of the annual ranking. However, there are three races for which the top 3 finishers qualify for the national championships: Yokohama (SD), Goto A & B, Kasumigaura (middle & long).

More information here: [SP National Championships]  [SD National Championships]  [LD National Championships]

Age Group Ranking Races

Sprint Distance (SP) 

In the SP ranking, there are 19 races. The full list with links to race websites, as well as further information about the ranking system, can be viewed here:

List of Sprint Distance Ranking Races (in English)

Explanation of TRIJ Sprint Distance Ranking System (in Japanese)

Olympic (Standard) Distance (SD) 

In the SD ranking, there are 31 races. The full list with links to race websites, as well as further information about the ranking system, can be viewed here:

List of Olympic Distance Ranking Races (in English)

[Explanation of TRIJ Olympic Distance Ranking System

Long Distance (LD) 

In the LD ranking, there are 15 races. The full list with links to race websites, as well as further information about the ranking system, can be viewed here:

List of Long Distance Ranking Races (in English)

[Explanation of TRIJ  Long Distance Ranking System