XC group classifications

[Anonymous]

At the Monroe Parker meet yesterday they had three groups: varsity, JV, and freshman/sophmore. The parameters for varsity are pretty clear, but the JV vs. frreshman/sophmore are not unless you are a junior or senior who does not qualify for Varsity. Our son is a freshman and was placed in the JV group. From internal time trials he is one of the top freshmen but mid-range across the broad spectrum of the team and the assignments seemed sporadic. Just wondering what the conventional wisdom is.

[Anonymous]

Will add that some of the freshmen boys that are faster were in the freshmen/sophomore group.

[Anonymous]

each category of Monroe Parker can have 10 runners so I think coaches want to run 30 girls and 30 boys.

For our team- 10 fastest went to Varsity (and if those fastest included a 9th or 10th grader- they would have been included). Then 10 fastest 9th/10th graders went to that race. The whoever is next 10 after the others went to the JV race (for us it included all grades)

[Anonymous]

Your son's coach can best answer your question. Different coaches have different approaches. I believe the fresh/soph race is offered to give fresh/soph not on varsity or JV an opportunity to race and get that experience. But...there's always a but...Monroe Parker format allowed teams to put 10 runners in each race: varsity, JV, and freshman/sophomore, with the top 5 finishers scoring. Maximizing scoring potential in each race requires strategy. Coaches likely run different scenarios and determine which race to place athletes to try and maximize scoring potential in each race. In addition, there may be non-time factors that influence coach decisions, e.g., attendance at practices.

[Anonymous]

Another Monroe Parker question- Burke Lake has traditionally been an odd 2.98 length course. Now it is listed on mile split as a 5K. Was the course altered to accommodate this? My kid not has a PR on a 5k course which is much more helpful than the other odd length that is not run anywhere.

[Anonymous]

It can also depend on if a coach wants a kid to learn to be in the front of the pack or middle of the pack. Even if a Freshman has a "varsity" time, Coach may want them to practice being a front runner in a Freshman race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another Monroe Parker question- Burke Lake has traditionally been an odd 2.98 length course. Now it is listed on mile split as a 5K. Was the course altered to accommodate this? My kid not has a PR on a 5k course which is much more helpful than the other odd length that is not run anywhere.

The course yesterday was the shorter 2.98. We refer to it as a "3-miler" - you can calculate what a runner's time would be if runner ran same pace on 5k course (if interested in knowing how performance compares).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Monroe Parker question- Burke Lake has traditionally been an odd 2.98 length course. Now it is listed on mile split as a 5K. Was the course altered to accommodate this? My kid not has a PR on a 5k course which is much more helpful than the other odd length that is not run anywhere.

The course yesterday was the shorter 2.98. We refer to it as a "3-miler" - you can calculate what a runner's time would be if runner ran same pace on 5k course (if interested in knowing how performance compares).

Milesplit has the race listed as a 5k so that is why I am asking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Monroe Parker question- Burke Lake has traditionally been an odd 2.98 length course. Now it is listed on mile split as a 5K. Was the course altered to accommodate this? My kid not has a PR on a 5k course which is much more helpful than the other odd length that is not run anywhere.

The course yesterday was the shorter 2.98. We refer to it as a "3-miler" - you can calculate what a runner's time would be if runner ran same pace on 5k course (if interested in knowing how performance compares).

Milesplit has the race listed as a 5k so that is why I am asking.

Milesplit isn’t 100% accurate by any means. They may or may not adjust it to 3 miles

[Anonymous]

Our school doesn't participate in Monroe Parker but typically fastest runners are in Varsity unless coach wants them to place in Frosh/Soph.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school doesn't participate in Monroe Parker but typically fastest runners are in Varsity unless coach wants them to place in Frosh/Soph.

I think the original question was JV vs freshman/sophmore if a freshman is placed in JV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It can also depend on if a coach wants a kid to learn to be in the front of the pack or middle of the pack. Even if a Freshman has a "varsity" time, Coach may want them to practice being a front runner in a Freshman race.

Yes!

This is part of the fun of cross-country. If a team has some depth, the coach may choose to experiment with factors like this.

Another thing my kid's old coach did is that he would sometimes encourage the top couple of kids to hold back so that they could practice running as a pack. In a big race, a team that can lock up places 9-14 may be more likely to win than the school who has the winner, if the rest of the team is much farther back. Or if the leaders are dispersed among many schools.

MY FAVORITE SPORT!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It can also depend on if a coach wants a kid to learn to be in the front of the pack or middle of the pack. Even if a Freshman has a "varsity" time, Coach may want them to practice being a front runner in a Freshman race.

Yes!

This is part of the fun of cross-country. If a team has some depth, the coach may choose to experiment with factors like this.

Another thing my kid's old coach did is that he would sometimes encourage the top couple of kids to hold back so that they could practice running as a pack. In a big race, a team that can lock up places 9-14 may be more likely to win than the school who has the winner, if the rest of the team is much farther back. Or if the leaders are dispersed among many schools.

MY FAVORITE SPORT!

From a freshman parent, thanks for this.

Monroe Parker was the first meet I’ve ever seen, and I have no idea what the deal is, so this is interesting to me.

Thankfully, my kid is mostly in it for the fun of it, so it doesn’t feel stressful. We can just show up and learn. Kids put forth a lot of effort but really looked like they were enjoying themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another Monroe Parker question- Burke Lake has traditionally been an odd 2.98 length course. Now it is listed on mile split as a 5K. Was the course altered to accommodate this? My kid not has a PR on a 5k course which is much more helpful than the other odd length that is not run anywhere.

Milesplit has updated to reflect it was a 3 miler

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It can also depend on if a coach wants a kid to learn to be in the front of the pack or middle of the pack. Even if a Freshman has a "varsity" time, Coach may want them to practice being a front runner in a Freshman race.

Yes!

This is part of the fun of cross-country. If a team has some depth, the coach may choose to experiment with factors like this.

Another thing my kid's old coach did is that he would sometimes encourage the top couple of kids to hold back so that they could practice running as a pack. In a big race, a team that can lock up places 9-14 may be more likely to win than the school who has the winner, if the rest of the team is much farther back. Or if the leaders are dispersed among many schools.

MY FAVORITE SPORT!

From a freshman parent, thanks for this.

Monroe Parker was the first meet I’ve ever seen, and I have no idea what the deal is, so this is interesting to me.

Thankfully, my kid is mostly in it for the fun of it, so it doesn’t feel stressful. We can just show up and learn. Kids put forth a lot of effort but really looked like they were enjoying themselves.

Great attitude. If your kid likes it and keeps putting in the work, they'll improve and will feel so proud. Runners are usually very nice people, too.