What is a decent (average) time for the 400 for a 14 YO boy?

I didn't run in 8th grade in 1992, so couldn't tell you what I would have been, but can't imagine any faster than 66. Does the kid train? If so, how much?

My freshman year I ran 18:56 (cross), 2:10.9, 57

My sohopnore year I ran 17:59 (cross), 4:57, 2:04.9, 55

My junior year I ran 17:10 (cross), 4:40, 2:02.9, 53

My senior year I ran 16:45(cross), 4:35, 1:59, 52

In college I ran 1:53, 3:56 and 14:40.

After many years off from running, building a career and family, started running again and ran 2:33 in the marathon (never thought I would be a good distance runner, but that turned out to probably be my best time of all considering I took years off and was always a low mileage guy. 20-30 mpw in hs and 40-60 a week in college).

My point is that a 66 in 8th grade sounds pretty good. I would consider myself a pretty decent runner. Not great, but good enough to be able to hang on 95% of runs and workouts with my team's best guys (4flat types, 14flat guys in college, 2:22 types post collegiately).

I think you underestimate yourself. I could run sub 60 at 13 and I was not as good as you. Sophomore yr I was in your neighborhood but never really got a lot better.

I think it would be a leap for a 66 14yo to get really good. Not saying it couldn't happen though. Everyone is different.

atownrunnin wrote:

I'm just curious. My son is in 8th grade and in the car this morning he says "hey dad, is a 1:06 for the 400 a good time?" He ran it in practice last night and said he beat the other kids by a decent distance. I told him I honestly didn't know! Opinions?

Truthfully, 66 is not fast at all, its only about average for a 14yo female...don't tell your son that. I ran 56 at age 14 and had 2 teammates faster than me; however, I had run age group track for several years and was trained. I would not put too much into his time because training, physical development, etc., makes a big difference; a 14yo can run 66 and then 60 a few weeks later. Also, if he never runs a fast 400m, there are many other events to consider.

In term of 400m year old performances:

- 60 is decent

- 58 is good and would be competitive at middle school and local age group meets

- 56 is very good and would win most middle school champs and qualify for regional age group meets

- 54 is an age group national caliber performance

- 52 will put you among the top 14yo in the nation

I'd say 1:06 is definitely average for a middle school kid in track. I ran a 57.8 back then. But before that I was running a 1:07. The difference in the good middle school kids and the average is that the good ones know how to sprint the whole thing and the others just run it like a distance. I'm not fast at all but I won the 400 in region in middle school and now I can only run like 54 as a college distance runner. Tell him not to be scared and go fast from the gun. He might blow up the first time but he will go further each time he tries it. Then he will learn how to hurt and run under 60.

my experience 8th & 9th graders 53-54 would win some races. 56-60 could put you on competitive relay teams,

Keep it up!

I ran a 1:08 as an eighth grader. Ran a 55 as a ninth grader. Now as a Senior I run a 49, and a 4:13 mile last year as Junior in high school. Don't ever let him feel discouraged and always tell him that his day is coming, because that's what my Dad told me. Tell him it's going to be a long road, but it is a fufilling one!

In my first year of track I ran 56.9 in year 9 (equivalent to 8th grade), aged 14.

I was an 800m runner and placed 250th in the UK for the 400m in my age group that year.

Get him running the 1500/mile instead.

atownrunnin wrote:

I'm just curious. My son is in 8th grade and in the car this morning he says "hey dad, is a 1:06 for the 400 a good time?" He ran it in practice last night and said he beat the other kids by a decent distance. I told him I honestly didn't know! Opinions?

That's an ok time starting out, but to be competitive with kids from other schools he will need to get closer to a minute. The top kids, excluding AAU and USATF competitors are in the mid-50s.

HOU56 wrote:

A 53 is a decent time in the 800 grade!!

That's a decent time for a H.S. sophomore; 53 is beyond decent and would make you competitive in 13-14 national age group competitions.

Tonight my son ran a 400m in 63 seconds and got 8th overall in his 8th grade meet, a decent pace is probably a 58-60

Sorry if this has already been addressed, but who gives a flying f*^k what his time is and how good he is as a 14 yo. Seriously, don't even keep track. The question you need to ask at 14 yo is whether he's enjoying the hour before the meet. Is he engaged? Is he laughing with friends? Is he disappointed he has to leave when you come to pick him up? If you answer yes to these it doesn't matter if he's running 46 or 76, he's enjoying himself. If there is talent and desire it will rise to the surface. Focus on their overall happiness, not your desire for them to perform well.

A couple of years ago the first 5 Freshman 4X400 boys indoor teams in my town ran 3:54,4:02, 4:13, 4:17 & 4:25. So without a doubt the average time for an average 14 year old has a pretty broad range .

200m is a better distance to assess potential

Thats crazy no way! An eighth grader should never be able to do that ! That is only one second slower than the all best time.

Look, a lot of these LetsRun posters are used to judging things at a world class or die mentality.

66 in 8th grade is good, not great but good, I ran around a 63 in 8th grade eventually got it down to around a 51-50 for a relay split and ended up running 1:56 for 800m at a D1 college. Nothing incredible but something I'm relatively proud of.

Encourage your son to keep running but certainly not to get cocky, 66 is good but nothing to make him feel like he's a prodigy over.

I ran 5:20 in the mile 8th grade year and went to run 4:50 the following year after a year of track, now just getting into the 400m dash because I ran a 51.2 split and "I'm a natural sprinter" apparently. But my point is that for a track athlete 66 might not be that good, but for the general population 66 is pretty good. Keep working on it and maybe we can break 43 in the 400m for the WR. :)

That's a decent time to start out. I ran about the same my freshman year at 14 to start the season and went 55 by the end of it. I didn't really start growing until the following year and got way faster and started dipping under 50. It really depends on where your kid is as far as his physical development. If he is still a little guy at 14, then he will get much faster. The good thing is it seems like he like track.

Ffghnvfscvnb wrote:

I ran 57 in the 8th grade and wasn't even close to making our 4x400. 3 14 yr olds and a 12 yr old. 52-52-53-49 and the 49 was the 12 yr old!

And those splits didn't even make our middle school league championship finals!!!!