Let 'Em Run: Kansas Girls for 5K

Judging from Alli Cash's finish at NXN Heartland Regional, I'd say she could have used more races at 5000 this year. She faded badly, and was passed by at least 3 runners in the last 400 meters. I know she ran Roy Griak this year, but didn't run KC Metro, so looks like she had one race at 5000 prior to NXN. She still qualified for nationals, because one of the girls who passed her was from Wayzata, the winning team qualifier, but it probably wasn't the way she envisioned it, given she was in second place much of the race.

nxn observer wrote:

Judging from Alli Cash's finish at NXN Heartland Regional, I'd say she could have used more races at 5000 this year. She faded badly, and was passed by at least 3 runners in the last 400 meters. I know she ran Roy Griak this year, but didn't run KC Metro, so looks like she had one race at 5000 prior to NXN. She still qualified for nationals, because one of the girls who passed her was from Wayzata, the winning team qualifier, but it probably wasn't the way she envisioned it, given she was in second place much of the race.

I was there, too. Was very surprised watching her fade at the end.

Well...not good news for Kansas girls. On this year's Fall survey, the state's coaches have voted down the move to 5K. Class 5A is the only division where coaches were in favor.

It's not over yet, but just a bummer that coaches don't see the good in bringing this state up to a standard accepted in the majority of U.S. states.

As a Wisconsinite I would like to see girls move up to the 5K so we don't have to spend time creating separate 4K courses and we can make fun of the boys that have girls beating them.

Pat,

There aren't any rules against having a regular season meet in Kansas where the girls run 5K though. I'd like to see a some Kansas meets do this to try to spearhead the movement. Back in the day when the KC Metro meet was hosted at Johnson County CC the girls ran 5K. Obviously several Kansas teams travel to Missouri for meets and the girls run 5K there. I'm surprised 6A didn't vote yes for it considering how many of them run 5K's in MO every year.

Wyco Loco wrote:

Pat,

There aren't any rules against having a regular season meet in Kansas where the girls run 5K though. I'd like to see a some Kansas meets do this to try to spearhead the movement. Back in the day when the KC Metro meet was hosted at Johnson County CC the girls ran 5K. Obviously several Kansas teams travel to Missouri for meets and the girls run 5K there. I'm surprised 6A didn't vote yes for it considering how many of them run 5K's in MO every year.

I agree...thanks for the note!

t94bell wrote:

As a Wisconsinite I would like to see girls move up to the 5K so we don't have to spend time creating separate 4K courses and we can make fun of the boys that have girls beating them.

Ha...I hear you!! We'll get there eventually; this is only a hurdle on the way to doing something that's right.

How many coaches participated in the voting? How was the result made known? Link?

How close were the votes? Did the smallest schools have a high percentage against the increased distance?

ks1 wrote:

How many coaches participated in the voting? How was the result made known? Link?

I'm not at liberty to give the specifics; 137 coaches voted. The results of the fall postseason survey were sent by Mike Spielman, who is the cross country chair for the Kansas Coaches Association. Mike is also the head coach at Baldwin High School.

How many schools in Kansas? With 5 divisions I would have thought many more coaches would have voted on this subject.

Pat...don't you think it is a matter of time for the much needed change...not surprised it failed this time but I am sure it will get passed soon...KS will probably see a immediate decline in runners only to get back to normal within a few years...

Being a one time Collegiate coach I do think the move will help the girls but it is not a determent at all...I have seen many KS girls make All-American or get very close as Frosh...but he change will be a good one...

I for one looked almost entirely at Track times when it went to awarding scholarship $$...

Thread Follower wrote:

How many schools in Kansas? With 5 divisions I would have thought many more coaches would have voted on this subject.

The Kansas High School Activities Association lists 293 schools that offer cross country in the state of Kansas.

6A schools -- 32

5A -- 32

4A -- 62

3A -- 60

2A -- 55

1A -- 54

KCTrack wrote:

Pat...don't you think it is a matter of time for the much needed change...not surprised it failed this time but I am sure it will get passed soon...KS will probably see a immediate decline in runners only to get back to normal within a few years...

Being a one time Collegiate coach I do think the move will help the girls but it is not a determent at all...I have seen many KS girls make All-American or get very close as Frosh...but he change will be a good one...

I for one looked almost entirely at Track times when it went to awarding scholarship $$...

Yep...I do think it's time will come. The vote is just by the coaches. Ultimately, KSHSAA makes decisions on proposals. The coaches' votes go to KSHSAA as a way for that governing body to measure what coaches are thinking. I'm not saying I think KSHSAA will rule differently; I hope in time coaches, though, will support this increase in distance. I grew up in Colorado, where girls were running 5K in the 1970s! And doing quite well at it...and my perspective was from a Class 2A school in that state where our numbers were steady between 10-20 girls out for the sport each year.