Why is US juniors so weak?

Would you bother trying to qualify for a meet where you have the opportunity to get crushed by 25 year old Kenyan cheaters? Even if I was the best 18 year old runner in the US I would pass on this "junior" nonsense. Better to rest up and get ready for the fall.

No you wouldn't.

Probably just because it's so late into the season. Most of the top hs kids are probably feeling burnt out from a long season and would rather take a break then get ready for xc. I wish some of the better girls like Knights or Debalsi ran in the 3k though.

I noticed the same thing. In the men's jr side the winner ran 14:21? Wasn't there a kenyan who just placed a diamond league in a low 13? Same goes for that 18yr old who outran centro.

Juniors wrote:

Probably just because it's so late into the season. Most of the top hs kids are probably feeling burnt out from a long season and would rather take a break then get ready for xc. I wish some of the better girls like Knights or Debalsi ran in the 3k though.

My point was that both Meets are happening during the same weekend...

...so both meets are happening "late"

I know a handful of the distance runner that competed yesterday and most were disappointed by their post-season performances.

This meet makes the most sense for the kids like Mary Cain and Alexa E. who are confident they will qualify and can aim to peak for the Junior season. Many others are spending their XC prep time but with marginal chances to qualify.

I talked with Alexa's coach at a big meet in May and he said their workout schedule was only beginning then since she was aimimg to peak at Worlds.

HS runners are avoiding this event so much that the bronze medal (behind Efraimson and Cranny) was actually an 8th grader (not even in HS yet)... It's really a bit ridiculous. She ran well for an 8th grader (4:26), but there are a dozen girls in HS (and University freshman) that could have run faster than that.

I think most high schoolers don't really think about US Juniors. They have a full year of high school running, they're ready for a break, and the end of the season is districts or regionals or states or nationals, not some meet in the middle of the summer several weeks after their season is over that is gonna cut into their summer training for xc.

The big meet that high schoolers care about is New Balance. Nobody cares about US Jrs.

asdfadsfads wrote:

The big meet that high schoolers care about is New Balance. Nobody cares about US Jrs.

Or the Dream Mile / Brooks PR, if they are lucky enough to get invites to those select meets.

Surprised the NB 100 winner (Haraway, 10.20) was awol. He raced frequently all indoor and out. Why stop, with World Jr here? I could understand if it was in some 3rd world dump, but its here...why not go? Or try anyway. Also, Mustaqeem Williams what became of him? 10.31 I think as an 11th grader, and didn't hear much of him this outdoor.

I can see distance guys passing, but why would a sprinter not go if the odds favored success? No Kenyan 30 yos are going to bother US sprinters.

weak???????

this is an awesome junior team.

women 100, 11.10

200- 22.49

400- girl ran 50.46 this year

100 hurdles 12.87

400 hurdle 2 girls under 56 though one is too young for world juniors.

men 100 world junior record holder

200- 20.03 wind aided who has run 10.00 legal for 100

long jump 26. 4 i believe.

and lots more i just glanced at some results this is a loaded junior team.

I was referring mostly to the middle distance events

quote]douglas burke

wrote:

weak???????

this is an awesome junior team.

women 100, 11.10

200- 22.49

400- girl ran 50.46 this year

100 hurdles 12.87

400 hurdle 2 girls under 56 though one is too young for world juniors.

men 100 world junior record holder

200- 20.03 wind aided who has run 10.00 legal for 100

long jump 26. 4 i believe.

and lots more i just glanced at some results this is a loaded junior team.[/quote]

I just don't get it it - all these kids would prefer to run silly HS meets (for their equally silly HS coaches) as opposed to representing their country? The priorities of this sport in America are way out of whack. It is supposed to be an honor and privilege to compete for your country. This meet (US juniors) should have been the focal point for hundreds of prospective team members, whose whole season was planned toward this opportunity, even if many would fall short of making the team.

I coach a kid who just made the national team and it has been a focus for months, with other meets taking a back seat in terms of priority. No wonder few people outside this country have much respect for our coaching system - the belief is that (like Africans in a different way) there is so much talent in the US that ability develops despite the general incompetence of the coaching/administrative structure that exists.

I think there's something fundamentally wrong if some sponsor's national meet is more important to most HS students than the WORLD Junior champs.

Are you kidding me?

This is a world competition, with people from everywhere. You can win a world title.

Who would let a kid prioritise HS meets instead? The focus all season should be peaking for US Juniors.

Such an insular view.

World Juniors is not “late” for the WORLD only for the USA!

Disappointing that the locals are not interested in an event that much of the rest of the World has to travel thousands of miles to get to.

Doesn’t sound like it’s going to be much of a party.

Track town USA. LOL!

Do they have to pay their own expenses to get to Juniors?