Why have American HS 5k and 10k times become stagnant compared to the yearly sub 4s?

You answered your own question. HSers rarely run 5,000 (except for NBIN, I suppose). Almost never run 10,000.

They're not as commonly contested plus the mile is just a more fun and universally entertaining race for most. Its faster, shorter, and especially for americans its really easy to have non runners understand that feat vs a 5k or 10k. You tell someone youre a mid 28 min 10k runner theyd be impressed but probably wouldn't get it unless they also run. You tell someone youre a sub 4 miler and they'd lose it.

birdbeard wrote:

You answered your own question. HSers rarely run 5,000 (except for NBIN, I suppose). Almost never run 10,000.

This was a really useless thread...

The longer races aren't popular and never were. In the old days there were a few very good high school runners who would do the 100 mile weeks but they were rare even then.

The mile list has too many times. Take only the top 10 and it looks like the 5k and 10k lists.

800m times are interesting. Kersh is the only one who appears twice. 7 out of the 11 are from 2001 and later. More competition indicates that better athletes choose the 800m and the scrubs usually run the longer races. This is also my high school experience.

birdbeard wrote:

You answered your own question. HSers rarely run 5,000 (except for NBIN, I suppose). Almost never run 10,000.

Exactly if they ran the 5000 and/or the 10000 instead of the 3200/2 Mile times of 13:15 - 13:30 and 27:40-28:00 would be commonplace and the records would be under 13:15 for 5000 and under 27:40 for 10000, The only reason kids would not run these times is because coaches purposely undertrain so kids don't burn out and that is why American High School Distance times are not as good as Sprinters times, because Distance Runners are purposely held back so their is room for improvement, High School kids have just gotten faster, stronger, better endurance. Look at Brazier 1:43.5 I believe his first year in College, That is worth about 13:00 for 5000 and 27:10-20 for 10000, but again the longer Distances are purposely held back so they don't actually run that fast in High School.

douglas burke wrote:

birdbeard wrote:

You answered your own question. HSers rarely run 5,000 (except for NBIN, I suppose). Almost never run 10,000.

Exactly if they ran the 5000 and/or the 10000 instead of the 3200/2 Mile times of 13:15 - 13:30 and 27:40-28:00 would be commonplace and the records would be under 13:15 for 5000 and under 27:40 for 10000, The only reason kids would not run these times is because coaches purposely undertrain so kids don't burn out and that is why American High School Distance times are not as good as Sprinters times, because Distance Runners are purposely held back so their is room for improvement, High School kids have just gotten faster, stronger, better endurance. Look at Brazier 1:43.5 I believe his first year in College, That is worth about 13:00 for 5000 and 27:10-20 for 10000, but again the longer Distances are purposely held back so they don't actually run that fast in High School.

You are delusional. Nobody is running 13:15 pace for 3200m so expecting them to do it for 5k is just nuts. If we dropped the 3200 for the 5000, I expect we would see a couple 13:50-14:10 every year an occasionally get a Rupp/Nico guy who is faster.

I wonder if that would be a good move or a bad (i.e. all those 4:10 milers who can be talked into running a 2 mile but would skip out on the 5k)

Here is an example of how kids looked in a Physical Education class in the 1960's, see how puny they look compared to kids today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yQth3QEXtA