What do PR, PB, SB, w and h mean in track results?
PR (personal record) and PB (personal best) mean the same thing: an athlete's best ever mark in an event. SB is a season best. A w marks a wind-aided mark, h a hand time, A a mark at altitude, i an indoor mark and NWI a mark with no wind reading.
| Mark | Meaning |
|---|---|
| PR / PB | Personal record or personal best: the same thing (PR is common in the US) |
| SB | Season best |
| w | Wind-aided: an official reading over the limit |
| NWI | No wind information for a competition mark |
| h | Hand-timed |
| A | Set at 1,000m altitude or higher |
| i | Indoor |
| X | Foul in a field event |
| – | Pass |
| O | Clearance in the high jump or pole vault |
| DNS / DNF / DQ | Did not start, did not finish, disqualified |
| Q / q | Qualified by place / by time |
Why the flags matter
The flags say whether a mark can stand as a best. A wind-aided 10.38w or a hand-timed 10.4h can be the fastest you have run and still sit beside your PB rather than replace it.
Sources: World Athletics Book of Rules: Competition and Technical Rules. Updated 2026-10-31.