What do top HS runners do in middle school?

Just from what I've seen, it seems like a 4:2x freshman typically ends up 4:1x or better (though not always); conversely, the ones that end up 4:1x or better start off anywhere from 4:1x to 4:5x as freshmen - very much a mix.

Not being elite as a freshman doesn't mean you won't end up nationally elite as a senior.

As for what they do in middle school... it's an even wider difference.

A lot of top HS runners run sub 4 in the mile in college and once they turn pro they run faster.

trackster333 wrote:

Do most top tier HS distance runners just jump onto the course/track freshman year for the first time and dominate, or do some have at least decent resumes before entering high school? I'm sure it's a little bit of a mix, but am just curious about what the general trend is?

From what I've seen, the best middle school BOYS runners either just train a whole hell of a lot more in middle school or they are just further along maturitywise than the others, or both. How good you are in middle school USUALLY has no bearing on your high school career. Lots of kids will come out of nowhere in high school to be great by the time they are juniors and seniors.

Flagpole wrote:

trackster333 wrote:

Do most top tier HS distance runners just jump onto the course/track freshman year for the first time and dominate, or do some have at least decent resumes before entering high school? I'm sure it's a little bit of a mix, but am just curious about what the general trend is?

From what I've seen, the best middle school BOYS runners either just train a whole hell of a lot more in middle school or they are just further along maturitywise than the others, or both. How good you are in middle school USUALLY has no bearing on your high school career. Lots of kids will come out of nowhere in high school to be great by the time they are juniors and seniors.

That's exactly what happened to me, I ran 4.50s for 1500 in MS, first year of HS I was running in the 4:20s, I'm now in my first year of university running in the 3:50s. I actually think it is much better peaking later because I am now improving so much which keeps me motivated to keep going. 2 years ago my PB was 20 seconds slower than now which proves being fast in HS has no relation to being fast in your 20s.

What does your training look like?

Most are either rejected soccer players or swimmers looking for out of season exercise. Over years they have built up fitness. I've looked at a number of elites' backgrounds and very few ran in middle school. Ritz and Manzano come to mind as some MS runners.

Flagpole wrote:

trackster333 wrote:

Do most top tier HS distance runners just jump onto the course/track freshman year for the first time and dominate, or do some have at least decent resumes before entering high school? I'm sure it's a little bit of a mix, but am just curious about what the general trend is?

From what I've seen, the best middle school BOYS runners either just train a whole hell of a lot more in middle school or they are just further along maturitywise than the others, or both. How good you are in middle school USUALLY has no bearing on your high school career. Lots of kids will come out of nowhere in high school to be great by the time they are juniors and seniors.

That was me. I was the slowest guy on my Jr. High team, but six years later, nobody could run with my on my HS team. I was the only one who ran all the time, so the mileage helped me overtake them.