My birthday is in October, so I had the option to enter school on the early side. Therefore, I entered 12th grade aged 16 yrs, and graduated High School when I was 17 yrs.
My birthday is in October, so I had the option to enter school on the early side. Therefore, I entered 12th grade aged 16 yrs, and graduated High School when I was 17 yrs.
Alternatively, I could have been entering 12th grade aged 17 yrs, and graduated when I was 18 yrs old. That option (graduating high school aged 18 yrs) is the most likely (at least it used to be) for US students.
My birthday is in October, so I had the option to enter school on the early side. Therefore, I entered 12th grade aged 16 yrs, and graduated High School when I was 17 yrs.
Alternatively, I could have been entering 12th grade aged 17 yrs, and graduated when I was 18 yrs old. That option (graduating high school aged 18 yrs) is the most likely (at least it used to be) for US students.
In order to graduate high school at the age of 19 yrs, one typically has to have been held back a year.
One reason why there are a couple of Minnesota runners on top of your list is that this one of the several states that allows 7th and 8th graders to compete at the high school level. For the girls, it’s a HUGE game changer (because some of them peak in middle school), but not as much for the boys
Many people know this, but the Ping sisters were the most noteworthy example (and, as you mentioned, probably peaked in middle school).
PS Some kid named Jacob in Norway ran faster than anyone in middle school and was training like a professional athlete from age 8 onward.
Keep telling kids, "play other sports, don't specialize, don't do higher mileage, start late" and with that advice, 99% of kids won't be good enough to ever walk onto a D1 college program.
Keep thinking that is great advice.
Jakob did not specialize until like 14-15. He did Nordic skiing. Also the Norwegians are known for not specializing until HS age.
One reason why there are a couple of Minnesota runners on top of your list is that this one of the several states that allows 7th and 8th graders to compete at the high school level. For the girls, it’s a HUGE game changer (because some of them peak in middle school), but not as much for the boys
Many people know this, but the Ping sisters were the most noteworthy example (and, as you mentioned, probably peaked in middle school).
Awesome information, and finally some RUNNING talk on this running message board!
Someone pointed out how many of the kids that fell off were more rural schools, but the kids from urban schools seemed to continue on. I think this could be coaching as much as anything. So many small country schools just do not have a true xc or track coach.
It's usually goofball fball coach or teacher that is assigned the task because he or she ran a 5k one time.
There are so many protentional great runners out there that never even spiked up because the chance just wasnt there.
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