I want to see what junior high cross country coaches think about increasing the varsity girls distance to 3000 meters the same as the varsity boys?

I ask this because I have coached at the junior high level and now at the high school level. I am seeing too many girls who ran very well at the junior high level decide not to run at the high school level. When I ask them why they invariable say they don't think they can race 3 miles.

The IESA (which most schools north of I70 belong to for sports) runs Varsity Boys and Girls at 3200 meters for cross country. When I look at the participation at high schools north of I70 I see many school having no difficulty getting girls to participate. Perhaps its time to 'bite the bullet' and raise the girls distance if we want to get better girls participation in the south.

I know that some junior high coaches have expressed concern about getting or keeping girls out if the distance is raised, but you only have to look at the northern schools to see that they have great participation with girls even at 3200 meters.

I always wondered why you don't have the distances the same or close to the distance we have with IESA. I have been coaching here at Illini Central M.S. for the last 8 years and once you get the girls to run the distance more will come along. I had 20 females 5th grade -8th grade run this year. Even with USATF xc the 9/10, 11/12 year olds run 3000 meters. It is an easier transition to the high school 3 miles.
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Geff,
I would love to see the girl's distance increase to 3K. I can see keeping the distance a bit shorter for the JV kids but not for the varsity. It is a large jump for the girls to go to 3 miles at the high school level coming off the 1.2 that they currently run. It would also help us when we compete with IESA teams. My girls always want to know the distance at each venue and I think it is tough for them to gear up for the 2 miles events we attend at IESA schools.

I wanted to bump this up in the latest news since lots of people will be online viewing the state meet results.

Please express some opinions about moving varsity girls to the same distance as the varsity boys.

How many years now has the IHSA girls distance been the same as the boys? IHSA girls moved from running 2 miles to 3 miles. I strongly feel that the JHS girsl should follow suit and be sanctioned to run the same 3K distance as the boys. The girls are more than capable and running the further distance will definitely help them make the transition to HS cross easier.

I think the Board of Control is to be commended for approval of moving girls varsity cross country distance to 1.8 miles (3000m) the same as the varsity boys. I know this has been a back and forth issue since the IHSA moved high school girls from 2 miles to 3 miles back in 2002. This is a good thing for Southern Illinois cross country and will help prepare junior high girls for high school.

-Geff Purcell
Salem Community High School
Head Cross Country Coach