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.
I always doubled the mile and the 800. I was too slow for the 400. My thought would be to drop one
since the 400 and 800 are brutal races if they are run correctly. I’d probably stick with the 400/800 from reading your description.
The other factor that’s very important here is the order of the events and the recovery time available. That might make the decision for you.
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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.
Back in the 1990s, York got a foreign-exchange student who was already on the path to competing in the Olympics.
At the HS state meet, he tried to win the 3200, 800 and 1600. He won two and finished second in the third -- making him the first boy in state history to place in all three events.
I know these events aren't the same difference, but a 17-year-old young man training at York's level and your daughter are two different things as well.
Choose two now and as time passes and her training evolves, then you can contemplate bigger challenges.
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.
I only know track from watching the Olympics, but from what you wrote…
…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?
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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.
She enjoys the sprints more, but based on the mile time, I wonder if she would have more success at
the distance races. She is a grinder. That's why the 400m always appealed to her. Its a hard race. The 800 and 1600 have the same aspect. But, I think she intimidated by the thought of running the distances every single time.
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…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?
Previous Message
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.
In Illinois, cross country is fall and track is spring. *
…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?
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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.
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.
The track coaches around here would never endorse it. Less is very much more.
Yes maybe 200 and 400, maybe 400 800, even 800, 1600 or for those distance freaks 1600 3200. But 3 events like that with such wide variety type of races no shot. The problem in there is the 800. It is such a grueling race to compete in.
The fact that your daughter thinks its nuts should probably tell you everything. Why do you want her to do all three?
This is why I asked. She is such an effortless runner, it just seems like she could do it. But I did not grow up a track guy, so I had no idea if it was something that was doable or not.
Guess she will have to decide between the 400 and the 800 or the 800 and 1600. I don't think she is giving up the 400 as that has been her baby. Its just hard to turn down the 5:33 mile time on her very first try. 5:29 won state last year at the mile.
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The track coaches around here would never endorse it. Less is very much more.
Yes maybe 200 and 400, maybe 400 800, even 800, 1600 or for those distance freaks 1600 3200. But 3 events like that with such wide variety type of races no shot. The problem in there is the 800. It is such a grueling race to compete in.
The fact that your daughter thinks its nuts should probably tell you everything. Why do you want her to do all three?
Limited experience, but it would be unusual, I think.*
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.
Sounds pretty brutal to me, especially if she does not yet know how to pace herself
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.
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.
on April 19, 2024, 8:22:27
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