The Mile not a "real" track event?

For Middle School, I could understand them not running anything longer than an 800. Perhaps they are just trying to keep the distance down. When I was in Junior High (basically Middle school plus 9th grade) we didn't have any track races longer than 800 either.

When you get to high-school, it will change.

Come to think of it, it's been so long I might have forgotten. As I vaguely recall, they did have the mile but the policy was that only 9th graders and older could run it

9th grade is highschool.

thats why we suck at distance running and always will.

because we won't even run a mile.

and the little poor/aids cases will run 10. just to get a drink of water.

funny how the world works.

Keep_Going wrote:

9th grade is highschool.

Maybe in a middle school system, but not in a junior high one.

Back in the '70s we had the 880 as the longest event in junior high (7th, 8th, 9th) grade because us poor kids might kill ourselves running a whole mile. I think they didn't let the girls run over 440 in junior high.

Our current school district runs the mile in all the middle school events, so I've seen 6th grade girls pump out 6:30s and 8th grade boys down to 4:55.

better question....does anyone else in the world ever run a mile or 1600??...NO. caught up in your own little world in the USA.

not american wrote:

better question....does anyone else in the world ever run a mile or 1600??...NO. caught up in your own little world in the USA.

What was that barrier that guy Bannister broke? 4 minute what? What did El G run 3:43 in a few years back?

pretty stupid wrote:

1) Does anyone else in the world not run the mile in middle school track

You do realize that other than the US, the rest of the world is metric? Many places in the world will run the 1500, with the mile being a rare, nostalgic event.

ldr wrote:

Keep_Going wrote:

9th grade is highschool.

Maybe in a middle school system, but not in a junior high one.

That's nonsense. In Ohio, if you have a middle school, it's 6th - 8th. A junior high is 7th - 8th. High school is almost always 9th - 12th.

Ohioan wrote:

That's nonsense. In Ohio, if you have a middle school, it's 6th - 8th. A junior high is 7th - 8th. High school is almost always 9th - 12th.

No it is not "nonsense", it's simply different states doing things differently.

When I was in Junior High the grades were 7, 8, and 9. The High school had grades 10, 11, and 12. It was that way all across the state. That's just the way that Massachussetts did things back then.

Then they changed it so that the Junior high became a "Middle School" with grades 6, 7, and 8. The 9th graders went to the high school. That's the way it is today.

Back in the 90's ran the mile...in 5:12 which was good for top 3 in our county. 1st place was 4:18!!! (He went on to be multiple all-american and footlocker regional winner)

Kids are getting fatter and more lazy. Having the mile would be a waste since there'd be three athletes entered. Besides, the fat out of shape meet directors probably don't want to sit around for six minutes to see who'd win, they could be on their way to McDonalds by then...

I'm glad I grew up in the day where the school mile-run was mandatory.

My middle daughter is 5 and in kindergarten. Every kindergarten student had to run a mile one Friday morning in November (although when they lined up it was a 1600). Still, it is encouraging to see that some schools still put an emphasis on fitness.

[quote]pretty stupid wrote:

My middle school in Chesapeake, VA doesn't run the mile n(or 1600) in competions. Our events include the 100, 200, 400, 800, 4x100, 4x400, and the 4x200, along with the high jump, long jump, and shot put.

Blacks don't run well over 800m unless they're jacked on epo.

Carnivore 69 wrote:

My middle daughter is 5 and in kindergarten. Every kindergarten student had to run a mile one Friday morning in November (although when they lined up it was a 1600).

What school and school district is this?

First, the title of the thread doesn't match the content of the initial post.

This isn't about the mile not being a real event but about not racing longer than 800m.

Second, I personally wouldn't want to race any kids that far at that age. I'd rather develop speed.

But that's just a personal preference. If there are enough participants they should have a mile or 1500.

The Mile has all the elements of drama

they run all the events in central va, like the 3200 and 1600 but no 4x2 cause that is pointless when you have 4x1 and 4x4 and 4x8 already

4X200 is run regularly in winter track

When i was in junior high we had a 1600 and a 3000 race. Although only about 3 kids every meet ran the 3000.