While I agree that 1600 and 3200 are idiotic distances to run on the track (and said as much in the stands while watching the Arcadia 2-Mile on Saturday night), I also think it'd be equally stupid to run the two mile ... and half mile and quarter mile and 100 yard dash in meets contested on a metric track - you'll note I left out the mile, since it still has enough magic as a distance to excite American high schoolers.
But if you're going to have metric all-weather tracks, you either make the decision to switch to 1500 and 3000, or you make 1600 and 3200 the standard. And the powers-that-be went with the latter. High school runners and coaches accept them. They allow fairly accurate comparisons to milers and two-milers from the past. And seriously, I don't think it's important that American high school races conform to IAAF standards.
Also, consider the implications for relays: do we really want to measure out 4 x 880, or 4 x Mile, or 4 x 440? Holy crap, just imagine trying to measure out sprint medleys in yards!
No, we gave up yards measurements when we went with metric tracks. And that left us with two rational choices: race the idiotic distances of 1600 and 3200 ... or completely alter the nature of HS races by going with 1500 and 3000.
Me, I would've gone with the 1500 and 3000.
But those involved in high school sports made a different choice.
None of which has much to do with the extremely talented, deep, and exciting field of distance runners who torched that 3200 on Saturday night ... and in the process actually stole the limelight of one of the greatest high school track meets in the country from some dazzling sprint, hurdle, and field performances.