A results sheet from an athletics meet can look like a codebook: DNS beside one name, a wind reading after another, and a string of letters next to a field-event mark. Most of the shorthand is straightforward once you know what to look for. Here are the abbreviations you’re most likely to see in track and field results, entry lists and broadcasts—and what they mean in practice.
Common result abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Where you’ll see it |
|---|---|---|
| PB or PR | Personal best or personal record | An athlete’s best performance, usually in a particular event |
| SB | Season best | The athlete’s best result in the current season |
| WL | World lead | The best performance in the world during the current season |
| DNS | Did not start | An athlete entered in an event who did not begin it |
| DNF | Did not finish | An athlete who started a race but did not complete it |
| DQ or DSQ | Disqualified | An athlete removed from the result under the rules |
| NM | No mark | A field-event competitor who records no valid result |
| NR | National record | A country’s best recognized performance |
| CR | Championship record | The best performance at a particular championship |
| AR | Area record | A record for a recognized athletics area, such as Europe or Asia |
| WR | World record | The best performance recognized worldwide |
PB and PR are often used interchangeably, though preferences vary by country and results provider. A runner might have a 10,000m PB of 27:40.00, for example, while their SB is the fastest 10,000m they have run this season. A PB does not necessarily mean a record: it is simply that athlete’s best.
DNS, DNF and DQ describe different situations. A DNS athlete never takes the start; a DNF athlete begins but does not reach the finish. A DQ means officials ruled that a competition rule was broken. The reason might be a false start, an illegal baton exchange or a technical violation in a field event. Results may include a note explaining the decision.
Qualifying and field-event symbols
In heats and qualifying rounds, Q and q usually show how an athlete advanced. A capital Q commonly means the athlete qualified automatically by finishing in a specified position. A lowercase q often means they advanced on time or mark after the automatic places were filled. The exact system depends on the competition, so check the event’s qualifying rules.
Field-event results use a different set of marks. In high jump and pole vault, O means a successful clearance, a dash usually means the athlete passed on that attempt, and X means a failed attempt. In long jump, triple jump and throwing events, X also marks a foul attempt. If a long jumper has three Xs in the qualification round, for instance, they have no valid mark and may be listed as NM.
A field-event line might read 6.82, X, 6.91. That athlete recorded a valid jump of 6.82 metres, fouled the next attempt, then improved to 6.91 metres. Their best legal mark—not the average of their attempts—determines their result.
Event abbreviations you’ll see on schedules
Meet schedules often shorten event names to save space. These are common examples:
| Abbreviation | Event |
|---|---|
| 100m, 200m, 400m | Sprint races |
| 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m | Middle- and long-distance track races |
| 100mH, 110mH, 400mH | Hurdle events; the distance and hurdle height depend on the event and division |
| 3000mSC | 3000-metre steeplechase |
| 4x100m, 4x400m | Relay races |
| HJ, PV | High jump, pole vault |
| LJ, TJ | Long jump, triple jump |
| SP, DT, HT, JT | Shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, javelin throw |
| Hept, Dec | Heptathlon, decathlon |
Not every organizer uses exactly the same format. You may see “110H” instead of “110mH,” or “Steeple” in place of “3000mSC.” The event name or meet handbook will usually make the meaning clear.
Timing, wind and performance notes
FAT means fully automatic timing: the finish is recorded electronically, typically using a camera system. It is the standard for high-level track results. Older or smaller meets may use hand timing, sometimes marked HT. Because hand times can differ from electronic times, the two should not always be compared directly, especially in short sprints.
Sprint and horizontal-jump results may include a wind reading in metres per second. A mark such as 10.10 (+1.2) means the athlete ran 10.10 seconds with a following wind of 1.2 metres per second. For record purposes in events where wind assistance applies, the usual maximum permitted reading is +2.0 m/s. A reading above that limit can still count as a meet result, but it generally cannot be recognized as a record or qualifying mark under the applicable rules.
You may also see RT for reaction time in a sprint. It records how quickly an athlete responds to the starting signal; it is not their finishing time. A result such as 0.145 seconds is a reaction-time reading, while the race time is listed separately.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does “NM” mean in athletics?
NM means “no mark.” It most often appears in field events when an athlete has no valid attempt—for example, after fouling every long jump or failing to clear a height in the high jump.
Is a PB the same as an SB?
No. A PB or PR is an athlete’s best performance ever in that event. An SB is their best performance in the current season, so it may be slower than their PB.
What is the difference between Q and q?
In many qualifying rounds, Q indicates automatic qualification by place, while q indicates advancement based on time or mark. Organizers can use different systems, so the event’s rules are the final guide.
What does a plus sign after a sprint time mean?
If it appears with a wind reading in parentheses, such as +1.2, it indicates a following wind of 1.2 metres per second. It is not extra time added to the athlete’s result.
Final Thoughts
Start with the result codes—PB, SB, DNS, DNF, DQ and NM—and you’ll be able to read most athletics reports at a glance. For field events, remember the simple pattern: O is a clearance, X is a failure, and a dash usually signals a pass. Abbreviations and formatting can vary between meets, but the surrounding event and result usually provide the clue.
Aiden Cross is a sports writer and editor at BeliveSports, covering a broad range of sports with a focus on clear, accurate, and practical information. His work covers rules, techniques, player roles, competitions, equipment, statistics, and the details that help readers better understand how different sports are played. Aiden takes a research-driven approach to sports writing, using reliable sources and established sporting information to provide context rather than simply repeating surface-level facts. His goal is to make complex topics accessible while maintaining the accuracy and depth expected by knowledgeable sports fans. At BeliveSports, Aiden contributes to the site’s editorial standards by focusing on accuracy, clarity, useful context, and reader-first explanations.