Agree on the 1600/3200, disagree on 2-mile. It's 2 miles, what are you gonna run? A 3k? That's just 2 x 1500m, and . As a former HSer, they want to run distances they understand. If I told my friends I ran a 7:59 3k, they'd be like "Oh, good job how far is that?", but if I said I ran a 9:59 2-mile, they'd be like "Omg you ran 2 miles in under 10 minutes? That's running, like, 2 4-minute miles back to back! I can't even run 2 miles without stopping, that's crazy". It's like how running a 3:59 mile is more impressive to almost everyone than running a 3:26 1500m, because no one knows how far 1500m is.
T&F just needs to get rid of the 1500. We already have an objectively better distance in the mile. The 1500 is 3.75 laps. That makes no sense for a spectator. The splits are so weird because they go through 300 and that's...
Agree on the 1600/3200, disagree on 2-mile. It's 2 miles, what are you gonna run? A 3k? That's just 2 x 1500m, and . As a former HSer, they want to run distances they understand. If I told my friends I ran a 7:59 3k, they'd be like "Oh, good job how far is that?", but if I said I ran a 9:59 2-mile, they'd be like "Omg you ran 2 miles in under 10 minutes? That's running, like, 2 4-minute miles back to back! I can't even run 2 miles without stopping, that's crazy". It's like how running a 3:59 mile is more impressive to almost everyone than running a 3:26 1500m, because no one knows how far 1500m is.
I agree on the 1500. It should be the Mile- it used to be popular internationally. The Dream Mile at the Bislett Games was big. Most European meets had the Mile.
Agree on the 1600/3200, disagree on 2-mile. It's 2 miles, what are you gonna run? A 3k? That's just 2 x 1500m, and . As a former HSer, they want to run distances they understand. If I told my friends I ran a 7:59 3k, they'd be like "Oh, good job how far is that?", but if I said I ran a 9:59 2-mile, they'd be like "Omg you ran 2 miles in under 10 minutes? That's running, like, 2 4-minute miles back to back! I can't even run 2 miles without stopping, that's crazy". It's like how running a 3:59 mile is more impressive to almost everyone than running a 3:26 1500m, because no one knows how far 1500m is.
Typical American - let's just tell the REST of the world what they should think. You also need better informed friends. If they do NOT know the difference between a 3.59 mile and a 3.26 1500m (which is better) then their ignorance is not to be admired. 1500m is an Olympic event - the Mile is NOW an obscure event limited to a few Invitationals (Bislett et al) and NCAA indoors.
The 3000m is an indoor championship event at all levels, and outdoors for Juniors. The 2 mile is little different than the 2000m in terms world relevance outside of America, the 1600m and 3200m limited to SOME American HS racing.
Sure there is a reason for the 1600 and 3200. When hs tracks converted from 440 yards to 400m, most high school federations decided to keep the simple idea of 4 laps is a mile and 8 laps is a 2 mile.
The difference is miniscule and the starter and timers don't have to worry about little adjustments at start/finish line. This is particularly relevant at duel meets, where much of the help is volunteers.
Same reason college dmr has a 1600 leg.
A few states do run 1500/3000, but vast majority now run 1600/3200. Get used to it, as the hs bureaucrats see no reason to change.
Sure there is a reason for the 1600 and 3200. When hs tracks converted from 440 yards to 400m, most high school federations decided to keep the simple idea of 4 laps is a mile and 8 laps is a 2 mile.
The difference is miniscule and the starter and timers don't have to worry about little adjustments at start/finish line. This is particularly relevant at duel meets, where much of the help is volunteers.
Same reason college dmr has a 1600 leg.
A few states do run 1500/3000, but vast majority now run 1600/3200. Get used to it, as the hs bureaucrats see no reason to change.
States that run the 1500/3000 should be publicly shamed until they go 16/32 like normal people. They pushed for a change and they lost. Take the L and join the normal states that can tell how long a track is.
Sure there is a reason for the 1600 and 3200. When hs tracks converted from 440 yards to 400m, most high school federations decided to keep the simple idea of 4 laps is a mile and 8 laps is a 2 mile.
The difference is miniscule and the starter and timers don't have to worry about little adjustments at start/finish line. This is particularly relevant at duel meets, where much of the help is volunteers.
Same reason college dmr has a 1600 leg.
A few states do run 1500/3000, but vast majority now run 1600/3200. Get used to it, as the hs bureaucrats see no reason to change.
You are exactly right that high schools do run exactly 4 and 8 laps. I will not argue that they don't do these 2 distances. However, races over 1600 and 3200 came into existence long after 400m was the standard track size. When I was in HS, tracks had been 400 for long enough I was unaware of any change. Yet, those unusual distances hadn't been run yet.
That's right. I was in HS long enough ago that no 1609 or 3200 race had ever been held despite tracks being standardized at 400m for about a century at that point. So what did everybody race given that track size? It was just like the non-US HS world is now. Every event you can think of except 1600 and 3200.
You are exactly right that high schools do run exactly 4 and 8 laps. I will not argue that they don't do these 2 distances. However, races over 1600 and 3200 came into existence long after 400m was the standard track size. When I was in HS, tracks had been 400 for long enough I was unaware of any change. Yet, those unusual distances hadn't been run yet.
That's right. I was in HS long enough ago that no 1609 or 3200 race had ever been despite tracks being standardized at 400m for about a century at that point. So what did everybody race given that track size? It was just like the non-US HS world is now. Every event you can think of except 1600 and 3200.
It has not been about a century. 1980/81 was when most tracks were converted from 440yd to 400m. Prior to that we had 100 110 hurdle 220 440 880 mile 2mile. At least this was for sure in PA and a lot of northeast. 1980 pa state meet was the move from yards to m at championship level.
Hot take: I believe the 1500m should be phased out at the collegiate/pro level in favor of the 1600m.
I legitimately see no reason for 1500m to exist. Do Europeans run 1500m in gym class or whatever equivalent they have over there? Do they go around asking each other their 1500m time? It's such a strange distance, 3 3/4 laps. Makes no sense to my small American brain. At least 1600m is an even 4 laps.
They should run the 1500m and 3000m. Those are the internationally recognized distances. If someone asks how far that is, they are stupid. Just reply they are 1500m and 3000m.
I was in HS long enough ago that no 1609 or 3200 race had ever been held despite tracks being standardized at 400m for about a century at that point.
That's flat out not true. Tracks in the United States were mostly standardized at 440 yards up until the 1970's and 1980's when they started changing them over to 400 meter tracks.
In the rest of the world the tracks might have been 400 meters for a century but not in the United States.
1600/3200 allow the runners to start and finish on the same line.
There is no reason that a race should have to start/end at the same line.
The 100m and the 200m don't start and end at the same line.
Don't be stupid. The reason that the 100 and 200 don't start and finish at the same line is because outdoor tracks are bigger than 200 meters, so it's not physically possible for the 100 and 200 to start and finish at the same line.
On indoor tracks, which are usually 200 meters, the 200 meter races DO start and finish at the same line.
Sure there is a reason for the 1600 and 3200. When hs tracks converted from 440 yards to 400m, most high school federations decided to keep the simple idea of 4 laps is a mile and 8 laps is a 2 mile.
The difference is miniscule and the starter and timers don't have to worry about little adjustments at start/finish line. This is particularly relevant at duel meets, where much of the help is volunteers.
This is the correct answer. All other answers are wrong.
High school sports do not have the expertise and resources that professional sports have, so they don't operate the same as professional sports.
High school sports have coaches who are often not that savvy, officials that are really old and can sometimes barely function, and parents and students acting as volunteers.
1600 and 3200. Why? Because 1500 and 3000 troubles intellectually lazy Americans! Oh, but they will claim that their superior distances are "American Exceptionalism" and an original thought beyond the comprehension of lesser nations.