Rap, it's not quite as impressive as it sounds. For veterans (fencers over 40, regardless of military experience), all you have to do to qualify is fence in a qualifier. How you finish matters not a whit. Also, the top 64 finishers get national points. There are 58 registered in my event for nationals. That's the most there have been in a national level event where I have fenced. Accordingly, I am 35th on the National Points List for my event. I love it!