Any recommendations how to suggest to a "head coach" of a high school track team she has runners in the wrong events?

I see a runner in the 400m who really should step up to the 800m. The "coach" tells the Sophomore he is a 400m runner. He has ran a 53.13 so far.

(edit) IMO he is a 800m runner. I know ya can't make someone run an event. I guess ya just hope everyone agrees on what event is best for the athlete.

I've been doing this for quite a while and I would have to say that at our place 53's are not a dime a dozen. While I would definitely try this athlete in the 800, I would still be seriously looking at him in the 4x400 as well as the open 400. Our 4x400 ran a 3:34 high the other day and three of the four are usually around 53 low to 53 high. We did get a low 52 out of our strongest kid but we don't have the luxury of dismantling our 4x400 to move our 53's up to the 800. I also know that at State the good teams run up to the 4x800, and that is great but at our place we generally have to move kids down and although we understand that this is not the best way to achieve results in the 4x800, you do what you have to do and we have made 8 appearances in the 4x800 at the State Meet over the years. 4 boys teams and 4 girls teams. And it's not that we don't work these 400 people and try to increase their speed. Also, our signature race has always been the 4x800 and while our school records aren't astronomical by any means were are 7:50's in the boys and low 9:20's in the girls. Our boy's 800 record is 1:54 and our girl's record is 2:16.

He is build like a distance runner. Very smooth stride. I do not believe he has the leg turnover or the speed for the 400m when it comes to regionals or state level. He does for the half.

IMO.

It's kind of late in the season to be switching events. First and foremost, the runner should be okay and confident with the event switch.

givetallugot wrote: First and foremost, the runner should be okay and confident with the event switch.

No doubt about it. Sounds like people have tried suggesting to the runner for a couple years now try the half.

thats why u get paid the head coaching bucks. let us know how it works.

We've tried that strategy that "ccrunner" alluded to in trying 400 guys who run 62-63 for the 300 hurdles and it works pretty well. We have a couple of guys in our shuttles who started out as a reserve 400 guys for us who have gotten their split times down to 16-17 range and their 300's down to the middle 40's. No world beaters as yet, but very useful 300 hurdlers and a fill in for our shuttles team on occasion.

Another athlete of Graham not necessarily in the wrong event but should be practicing a new one. I'd still like to see Logan White consider the decathlon in college.

I like to use cut off marks for my sprinters (100-300h)/mid distance(400-800 and some 1600)/distance runners(1mile-5k). If they cant run sub 12.5 sec (boys) 14.5 sec (girls) in the 100m then they are moved up to the mid-distance group. If they can't run sub 60 sec (boys) and 70 sec (girls) in the 400m then they are moved to the distance group. Train the kids in those groups and move them to whatever events you need them in for meets, but at least they are training for something they may be good at in the future.

The kids will fight it at the beginning of the year, but after they are put in the first meet and beat some kids they love it. The hard part is getting them to enjoy running the workouts.

said_aouita wrote: Another athlete of Graham not necessarily in the wrong event but should be practicing a new one. I'd still like to see Logan White consider the decathlon in college.

Found out he tried it using a pole 20 pounds too light and did not even try bending it. Still cleared 9 feet.

seeing kids in the wrong events is a shame to me... its frusterating when you have as said said (LOL) a 53 400 runner that, although he may be a sophmore isn't going to run a whole lot faster as he doesn't quite have the leg speed to do so... and did run the 800 in the middle school and was VERY successful at it...

I had a freshman this year who insisted he was a 400m stud, but I keep suggesting the 300m hurdles to him each time after he ran 60+.
Finally he agreed to give the 300's a try. His best this year was a 45 and he even moved to the 110's where he 3-stepped on his very first attempt. His best in the 110's was 17.07 and he is planning on going to a camp this summer to better his hurdle technique.

My homeboy talked with the "sprint coach" of the athlete. Sounds like he agrees on the idea of trying him in the 4x800 next year. At least give him a taste of the distance.

I'm looking forward to track next year and seeing this kid in the half, even if it's only in the relay starting out. If he's willing to work and stays optimistic to the distance he will be a legit 800m. No doubt about it.