You understand the problem and the solution is- marketing. Market the sport and athletes to the kids.
I'm 63 and I remember sold out US/USSR dual meets.
I remember sold out Millrose Games (I attended some).
I always refer to the 1971 "Dream" Mile between Liquari and Ryan. Google it.
Stands were full, it was on TV.
I remember in 1979/80, I liked Ovett. My Girlfriend, definitely NOT a runner/track fan, hated him and she liked Coe.
If you didn't know who Pre, Liquari, Ryan, Coe, Ovett, etc were you were living under a rock.
John Walker breaking 3:50 was on the evening news.
That Bayi/Walker Commonwealth World Record was on the evening news.
We had local newspapers that everyone read that covered track like it did the other sports.
It's all in marketing and, I think some kind of organization that can bring them together would make it more understandable.
Example- there are more than just Diamond League Meets in Europe. We used to call it the European Tour. T & FN carried all the meets results and lists of performers/performances.
Running Times covered the road race scene- it was a circuit. They would even had lists of top times at different distances.
It's marketing.