A couple thoughts... wrote:
It sounds to me like these kids have low levels of genetic talent. Smart training regimens will make anyone faster... but for these kids, that may mean mid-12's in the 3200 rather than sub-10 like it would for your more genetically gifted kids.
I have found an over-arching elitist belief at LRC that anyone, if they train hard, can be a sub-15 5k runner. I think that attitude is contagious, and is at the heart of the original post.
9th graders are at very different stages of physical development. My PRs from 10th grade were 5:47 and 12:36 (mile and two mile) and I broke 15 in college. The fastest 400 repeat I ever did then was 73 seconds, which I was pretty pumped about, but years later I ran 53 in the open 400. As someone said, no telling what they will do in a few years.