Every year around this time, the message board and front page explode with "so and so just ran xx:xx - they're the next big thing!" or "kid jumps X!".
I get that talent + hard work = greatness, but at the high school and sometimes even the collegiate level, talent can get you 90% of the way there, depending on the event. This seems to favor pure sprints, jumps, and even some of the throws.
Distance running takes endurance training + speedwork to sharpen the talent, but talent rules the day at lower levels.
So how far does talent take you? Can it land you a scholarship? Me thinks yes.