It's too boring, and playing with balls is much more appetizing. There is something new to see every day in a ball sport, but running is so boring because runners are so lazy. Lazy in the sense that they choose the easiest way to win and the easiest way to get win, which in turn makes the sport boring (ie sit and kick, 10x400).
Many more people would stick with cross country and not quit if it were more fun. Here is a sample workout to make that happen: It's called the 4321 B with all running reps being downhill. The recovery alternates between a bear crawl and a crab walk back uphill. And every time you make it to the top or the bottom of the hill, you get hit in the stomach with a boxing glove for mental toughness.
All of these measurements are in meters. Remember that a meter is almost as big as a yard:
400, 300, 200, 100
40 squats
300, 200, 100
30 squats
200, 100
20 burpees
100
10 burpees
With workouts like these, we can make running the coolest sport at every school. Everybody will want to join the team and you'll see school records PLUMMET!
Thoughts?