If this quote is true, how comes some states still run 4k for girls cross county?

In DI and DII XC, the men race 10k at Nationals, while the women run only 6k. I'm sure you already knew that, but that's an even bigger discrepency than girls running 4k in high school in certain states.

Exactly. Seems to be a remnant of the "marathons are detrimental to women's health" mentality.

Honestly, a lot of the push for keeping girls' races shorter is just so people don't have to stand around as long, waiting for the tailenders to finish. There are just too many 30+min 5k "runners" on girls' teams.

Another (historical, at least) reason for the girls' shorter distances: it was easier to get more girls to come out for the sport when the races were "two-something" miles, rather than "more than three" miles.

I think the 6k distance is a better distance for women since it allows mid-distance track kids a chance to compete more evenly with the 5/10k specialists. It just makes the race more interesting. With the men running 10k the milers have no impact.

As for HS the 4k distance is shorter but the winning times are about the same. You can call that equal.

Started this year. There are a group of 5-6 at or under 17:30. Only a matter of time before the smaller 1-3A schools do it too. Those same 5 or 6 could get their times under 17:00 by the end of the season.