atoms

Bethany Hasz wins state with a 13:53! That is an incredible time for a 4K! That was a great time for a 4K ran last year at the state meet. Too bad next year she will be running a 5K. They have made it official that Minnesota will be changing their girl’s race to a 5K as well. There is many reasons why they have kept it a 4K and are now changing it to a 5K. Another thing you have to ask yourself is how will it affect the girl runners?      Mshsl have kept Minnesota separated from the rest of the nation in not changing the girls 4K to a 5K. Some people believe that girls wouldn’t be able to handle the farther distance. There is a fear of changing it into a longer distance. A longer race may make kids not come out for the sport. They won’t want to run the farther distance. According to Christopher Parish the last time they changed it in 1994, from 3200 to a 4K, they didn’t see any decline in participation. Coaches want to change it to a 5K do to that’s what is run in college and at any national level meet. One small-school coach explained that there are very few runners that will run at a division one school and will have to run a 5K. There is all very few girls that will be good enough to run in national level meets competitively. Many 4K supporters also say that it doesn’t matter the distance. A great runner will be fast in either a 4K or a 5K.