How many high schoolers are currently distance runners???

High School Running Distance

16 years ago 04/16/2008 3:01pm EDT

This question came up in a discussion with some buddies recently. It actually stemmed from the rise in performance over the past several years in high school runners. We were debating whether more high schoolers were running now than say the 70's or 80's and the following question came up.

How many high school kids are running (either cross country or distance running in track or both) these days? Obviously this is impossible to narrow down definitively, but does anyone have a good guess. And if so, would you care to share the thought process behind the number?

Thanks.

16 years ago 04/16/2008 3:11pm EDT

re: Curious Cat

It seems about every 3rd person I see has a cross country shirt on from high school. Something tells me that lots of these people did it just because it was the only sport they could do and not get cut from the team, or just because their friends did it.

16 years ago 04/16/2008 6:11pm EDT

re: ole missian

I can definitely see that logic. It does seem to me that the younger the kids the more likely they were to be involved with an activity and/or sport that dos not have "cuts."

I think it goes along with all the nancy "everyone should get to play" attitude that all the soccer moms are pushing.

I'd also go a step farther and say that it's why we see less and less suburban kids going pro in sports like baseball, basketball, and football. You have to be good enough to play; and that talent is harder to develop when league admins state that "everyone gets to play..." Just think how much professional sports has changed in the past 20 years or so...

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How many high schoolers are currently distance runners???

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