Watching practice wrote:
There used to be years where nobody broke 9. I don't know what could be done differently to get more high school kids to run faster. 90% of high schools have nobody breaking 10 and most states have nobody breaking 9. There is no way that an average high school of 400 students has a 9 minute 2 miler attending, EVER.
Average high school size is 800 kids. But ignore that. Yes most schools don't generate lots of fast runners. Of those schools 90% of schools that don't have anyone breaking 10, how many
a) get out 30+ kids freshman year to try the sport
b) have the kids running 50+ mpw over the summer before senior year
About zero would be my guess. That is my whole point.
Lets make it real simple. Why do powerhouse programs crank out fast runners year after year? It isn't genetics (maybe an exception for Loudon who seem to get an abnormal number of transfers). It is because they train hard AND get people to join. What to argue that the times would be 9:15 instead of 9:05? Whatever. But if you look at those programs they crank out lots of low 4:20 milers/9:10 guys with the occasional superstar.