You've posted some dumb stuff on here, but this about takes the cake!
You've posted some dumb stuff on here, but this about takes the cake!
I think the biggest problem for a "high school all-star team" competing at the NCAA Championships would be the fact that they have never been in a meet of that size with that many solid people. It is an entirely different world running amongst a field of 250 runners (of which probably 200+ can run 14:40 or 8:30 and almost ALL of which can run sub 15:00 for 5k).
The toughest high school races(FL regionals for example) probably only have 20 guys competing for the top spots. Even the Footlocker Nationals, while fielding 40 good runners, is a small field and the athletes never feel "buried".
It takes a mentally strong person to accept the fact that they are going to go out in 4:40 for the first mile at NCAA XC and be in 100th place. I don't think most highschool kids could handle this aspect without going through at least a year or two of college training/racing. Some never make the adjustment.
You see top runners all the time that go to college and struggle to reach their potential because they can't cope with no longer being the big fish in a small pond. Sometimes this is even explained away as "bad coaching".
Or on a smaller scale, how many of us have seen established college runners have off days at NCAA's and, not knowing how to handle getting passed by 50 runners, panic and end up finishing 200th.
My guess is that the high school kids would get burried in the first mile and a half, freak out and end up waaay back.
Great interview with Steve Cram - says Jakob has no chance of WRs this year
Article: Director of BU track and field, cross country steps down following abuse allegations
adizero Road to Records with Yomif Kejelcha, Agnes Ngetich, Hobbs Kessler & many more is Saturday
Official Suzhou Diamond League Discussion Thread (7-9 am ET+ Instant Reaction show at 9:05 am ET)
Megan Keith (14:43) DESTROYS Parker Valby's 5000 PB in Shanghai
I’m a D2 female runner. Our coach explicitly told us not to visit LetsRun forums.