High School Coaches - Best way to determine your top 7?

We only had to deal with this once, and they were barely sub 18, so it's lucky that your team has sufficient depth. Typically, we'd have a very clear 1 (and sometimes a 2 who's right there as well), a bit of a drop off from 2-3 or sometimes 4, and then a weaker 5.

I think their average times (from late September and on) are important along with placing, with slightly more weight being given to the later meets (i.e. if someone talented but lazy comes in unfit and then gets fitter and surpasses the less talented runner who actually tried).

If the times aren't too distinguishable, could you share what they are or what are expected?

Also, when we had that, we used the results of the 2nd to last meet weighted against overall performance. That decision wasn't difficult (someone, a normal mid 16 runner, had a cold and finished only a couple of seconds behind a mid-upper 17 runner who had a good race) but if it were closer that'd be far tougher. He ended up returning to normal form at the championship meet so the decision was the right one

What I have done in the past is selected the top 5 based on place throughout the season - that typically favors the kids who worked hard during the summer.

The last two spots (plus alternate) is a race off at the last meet so it allows the kids who are running well at the end of the year a chance to make the team. That allows the kids who didn’t have a great summer a chance - could have been laziness during the summer for an upperclassman but also could have been injured or a freshman who grew a lot during the season.

I have a lot of coaching friends and they will just tell me “yeah I just pick who I feel is the best” but I like a system where kids earn it and it takes subjectivity out of it.

my coach always went off the last 5k that we did there almost never any differing from that. If you wanted to get to top 7 you had to do it in the jv race.

If you want the best runner, you probably want to select those running best at the end of the year...so top 7 times from the last meet.

If you want to complicate things - you could include an ave from the season (and this is not a bad idea) but I would weight the later season races more.

also fair to include some type of illness clause (meaning if your top runner had the flu - you certainly don't keep them off the championship team)...but if you put this in writing the cheaters in the #6,7 spots could all fake illness to hold their spots (saw this type of thing happen before)...so you would need to say others can still leap frog you if they out-preform you previous efforts.

Have a run off at the last available meet. Even if it means the kids in question run JV.

Our coach averages rankings from the last three races, but makes it clear he has discretion to make changes and moves up kids who missed a race or have shown in the past they have more potential than their last few races show.

Not a creative idea for you, but for us we have Districts to qualify for State so my team knows that the Top 7 times from Districts (could be from the Varsity or JV race) will represent our program at the State Meet.

From State to NXR is a bit more difficult as only 7 kids run State, so finding a time for a fair time trial after the state meet is the best option to give your bubble kids a chance to earn a spot in the Top 7 at NXR.

Towards the end of the year have your #s 6, 7, 8 and 9 battle it out in a JV race while you put your top 5 and a few others in a varsity race or perhaps rest your top 3 or 4 runners and have the others battle it out in a varsity race.

I am curious on this as well. Any other suggestions?