You would think inner city kids would be good at xc with all the running they do growing up.
That's mostly sprinting dude.
I grew up in Manhattan (went to NYC public school) and we had some good sprinters in the city. A few top middle-distance guys and some good distance runners, but the top XC guys in the city were in the mid-16 minutes for 5k.
For the schools in poorer areas, kids have problems and it's hard for them to commit to distance running. For schools in nicer areas there are a lot of options for kids growing up in the city (and I mean that in a good way) and distance running isn't necessarily the nicest. My school didn't have a football team but we had other sports and a lot of weird clubs.
One of the best mile races I've ever seen was this High School Millrose Mile race from back in the day -- it really draws you in:
The winner went to a NYC public school and competed for her club team but not the school team. The NYTimes says she was 14 (competing against high schoolers):
This is a BIG YEAR for inner city teams in Minnesota.
Minneapolis Southwest and Washburn boys team are really solid. Along with Wayzata, both teams are looking to be fighting for the 2 state meet spots. Whoever makes state out of that section will do really well there.
Southwest still has it after 3 seniors lost. The sophomores stepped up.
Washburn has the best team they had since 2015.
St Paul Highland Park is going for the double (boys and girls title) in AA!!!
Southwest’s top 4 nonseniors are 15:18, 16:11, 16:18, and 16:55 but the sad thing is their #5 nonsenior is 18:36. I hope they find someone next year. That would be neat. They could challenge for a spot at NXN if they do. I know that Sam Scott will be a lock for it next year. But they will be up against Wayzata and Stevens Point. Maybe Heartland is getting stronger? Strong enough to get an at large next year?
Como Park and St Paul central look good too this year.
The term "inner-city" fell out of use in the mid 2000s. What does it even refer to now? With gentrification and rising urban property values, low-income people are getting pushed to the suburbs/exurbs.
Aidan Jones (mn state champ from Minneapolis Washburn) missed an NXN auto-bid by 1 spot. If Dowling Catholic gets an at-large, Jones will get in because Dowling’s number 1 guy (heidesch) won the NXR race
Aidan Jones (mn state champ from Minneapolis Washburn) missed an NXN auto-bid by 1 spot. If Dowling Catholic gets an at-large, Jones will get in because Dowling’s number 1 guy (heidesch) won the NXR race
If Southwest does close the 3-5 gap next year they could get top 3 at NXR and possibly an at-large to NXN given how much stronger this region is getting. Sam Scott should win state and make NXN individually next year though