Im seeing local HSs running middle distance kids 6-9 races a week around here. That's 2-3 meets a week, sometimes just 1 meet. MD kids who are fast are going to also run 4x 4 or open 4 with no speed training. Its probably not a super rare thing compared to what most did when they were in HS. But that's just it, Its a broken system based on a basketball/ volleyball concept where you might have a couple games a week. You can't even plan workouts (probably zero) with that many meets. So HS track is basically a no development sport. 2 meets means you are doing a pre meet-meet-recovery rinse and repeat 2x per week with maybe a day off. The meets are your only workouts, which contrary to what coaches say, is not the ideal for workouts. If "meets were workouts" you would see ncaa and pro runners racing 6 times a week every week for 2.5 months. They don't. Probably not bad for beginner just needing to move the legs fast esp if they never do workouts. But there is no development anymore. In my experience I will grant that the coaches are under pressure to at least do league meets..like any other sport. But you don't HAVE to do an invitational to show off every single week. Running is not a skill sport, it requires adaptations. I see kids develop a little better during XC I think because the meets are mostly zero or 1 per week, rarely 2. So more workouts, long run, hill repeats, recovery mixed in. Put it this way, I see very few around here running their best at regionals and states in track. I do see them running their best at regionals and states for xc. When they leave me after indoor, they just get tired and slower and sometimes injured. A few will take off, sure. But mostly i just see tired legs and faces in late May.
I have started telling my indoor club kids to get as close as they can to peak by the beginning of track, then use the non stop races to sharpen up and pray you hold some sort of peak until early June. Once track starts there's no progress, so you need to be solidly 95% ready to go on April 1 then sharpen for an extended period of time. No base or workouts after april 1...it sucks. I would much rather they develop right up to regionals and be running their best at that time. But as someone said, speak up to the coach and run the meets you want that are important to the team. Just make up a sickness or something for some of the 10 invitationals and sneak in a hill session or workout or easy run whatever you need.