Jason Balkman ran in the 4:20's in 8th grade and went on to be a top notch college runner... So it is possible. As long as the kids are running that fast and aren't training too hard yet they will improve.
What everyone needs to remember is running there are only a few people who can run sub 27 min. 10k's or a 2:05 marathon in the whole world. A 4:30 miler for a 8th grader is great, but not winning gold is hardly a failure.
This thread made me go back and look at my son's times. He ran 5:06 in 8th grade, finished HS with 4:26/9:35 1600/3200, and finished college with a 3:58-1500 and 9:03 steeple. Everybody matures and develops differently.
Back when I was in eighth grade, the kid who sat next to me in home room sprouted a beard bigger than the ZZ Top guys', then shaved it off one day with a rusty switch blade and no lubrication during a 5 minute passing period. The smooth skin and rugged yet boyish good looks that lay underneath so impressed all six of the Pussycat Dolls, who used to rehearse at my school's gym, that they all began sleeping with him, each of the six experiencing multiple climaxes each session. The aerodynamic advantage he gained without the beard also allowed him to trim his mile (full English) time from 3:55 to 3:52 that year. We were seeted in alphabetical order in home room. I think you know the rest.
someone said something about deak earlier in the thread, he's actuallyin richmond va of all places on the road racing circuit, he recently ran 3 5k's in 6 days or some shit running 14:50,14:35, then finally tired i guess in the 16's and got beat by two area preps stars...still a 1435 chillin in a summer road race aint bad...
anyway there was an article on him in the local newspaper that has him saying somehting about how the best runners in the world dont go to school and he couldnt juggle the stresses of academics, running, and a social life...so now him and his pops(who teaches at a local middle school) are training it up.
There is an eigth grader in Westerville, Ohio whose name I don't know but ran a 48 high or 49 low 4x4 split at the Olentangy Invitational. My teammates told me this and I didn't believe them and then talked to several coaches who confirmed the split. He also ran 2:03 for the 800 as well
Well if anyone ever views this ancient thread again. He ended up running 4:15,9:12,15:12 XC. Went to Ohio State and had a decent college career.
Hello Donny Roys,
I wouldn't call your college career "decent." Average at best for a D1 runner.
Some how found this thread again. Not Donny but did go to Medina. Your right his running career was pretty bad given his talent. I can see that now running in college myself in lol.
Cheers, if you ever reply did you go to school in NEO.