When I was in high school running was compulsory and because the school was in a town, we did cross country but it was on roads, everyone did it, no exceptions, and you also weren't allowed to wear trousers/joggers even if it was snowing, you had to wear gym knickers (bun huggers).
I don't agree with the last bit because I think it put a lot of girls off sport actually, but I agree that it was good to have the entire school year running. I only remember there being one girl who couldn't do it. Everyone else managed. We also did 100m, 200m, 300m, 800m and 1500m. That was the longest. People kicked up a fuss about the 1500m though.