Minnesotan runners would give up their state meet eligibility to run Arcadia. There is a rule about needing to compete within 100 miles of the border - same is true for XC.
Bad rule? Absolutely. But that's why you've never seen a Minnesota kid at Arcadia.
Has anyone challenged the rule by going to the meet, then take on the state federation(s) in court? Are there any legal precedents for something like this?
Minnesotan runners would give up their state meet eligibility to run Arcadia. There is a rule about needing to compete within 100 miles of the border - same is true for XC.
Bad rule? Absolutely. But that's why you've never seen a Minnesota kid at Arcadia.
Has anyone challenged the rule by going to the meet, then take on the state federation(s) in court? Are there any legal precedents for something like this?
It ain’t that serious. It is a short HS track season in Minnesota.
When Garry Bjorklund ran a 4:05 mile in HS in 1969, he did it at the Minnesota State Meet. These boys didn't need to be competing outside of Minnesota. But for those who disagree, Garry and Pre were in the same HS class, so they might have had an interesting national mile race.
A lot of these states are tiny. 4:17 qualified for the state Championship for the 1500 in Hawaii
Plus, if the championships are on Oahu, kids from the outer islands and their schools have to come up with interisland airfare -- which isn't cheap. You can't drive to the big city from the big island, for example. And to send a kid to the mainland? Nope. Hundreds of dollars, if not thousands for runner, coach, et al.
Let's shame these states into getting their act together. These are the states that haven't broken 9:00 at Arcadia (or haven't even run it).
40 – Delaware – 9:00.61 – Sam Parsons, 2012 41 – Alaska – 9:00.68 – Levi Thomet, 2014 42 - Mississippi - 9:03.35 - Andrew Brown, 2025 43 – Hawaii – 9:11.37 – Kaeo Kruse, 2016 Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont - No marks.
Are these states represented in any of the Saturday Invitational races this year? Wondering if the list is going to change as these states are probably under-represented every year.
Kansas has had a couple guys in recent years, particularly Clay Shively, who almost certainly would’ve broken 9:00 at Arcadia had they gone.
Why should high school runners travel across the country to run a track meet when there are track meets in their part of the country? It's not like it's a post season championship or anything, it's just a time trial race... It means nothing except an artificially fast PR. I'd take an 8:50 runner from Iowa who ran in 15mph winds in Des Moines over an 8:50 runner who ran it at Arcadia.
Are these states represented in any of the Saturday Invitational races this year? Wondering if the list is going to change as these states are probably under-represented every year.
Kansas has had a couple guys in recent years, particularly Clay Shively, who almost certainly would’ve broken 9:00 at Arcadia had they gone.
Kansas sucks at distance running. Name one pro runner out of Kansas in the last 15 years
Are these states represented in any of the Saturday Invitational races this year? Wondering if the list is going to change as these states are probably under-represented every year.
Kansas has had a couple guys in recent years, particularly Clay Shively, who almost certainly would’ve broken 9:00 at Arcadia had they gone.
Kansas runners can't go to Arcadia because the state has a distance restriction for competing out of state. Maybe 250 miles? Something like that. Missouri used to have that rule as well, but they changed the rule after Adam Perkins chose not to run for his high school his senior year back in the early 2000s.
The no time states all had travel rules. Iowa and Michigan lifted the rules finally. Both have big invites for 3200 times,so less travel incentive though.
Michigan doesn't allow its athletes to travel more than 300 miles.....They could, but would have to compete unattached. If MI could, there would be a bunch under 9 minutes.....