…it sounds like her best race is the 400. So I’d think it makes sense to stick with that, and then decide whether it’s more promising to add the 800 as a second race or add the 200. Maybe it’s happened, but I can’t think of examples of people running 3 different distances, at least at the Olympic level. Lots of folks do 2, though.
Do you think she has more potential on the sprinter side or on the distance side? And what does she enjoy more?
Also, in HS is there a fall cross country season where she could try out a longer distance? Or is it more specialized so that she’d be focusing on the track distances year round?
As a 5th grader, my kid went to 7th grade state and finished 10th in the 400m. As a 6th grader, she went to the 7th grade state and got 3rd in the 400m and got the school record with a 1:03.4. She typically ran the 100m and 200m with the 400m at meets. Not enough top end speed to win the 100m and just missed the state qualifying time and got second in the 200m at sectionals.
But this year in early meets, we have been experimenting a bit. She ran the 800m and smashed the school record, but I honestly think her time was just ok. She didn't pace herself well and could run it faster. Then, last Saturday, she ran the mile. Again, she destroyed the school record and ran it in a 5:33. That was the first time she had ever run it.
Is it insane to try and run the 400, 800 and 1600 all at sectionals? Or, is that a common grouping? My wife and daughter both think it is nuts, but I think she can do it.
76