Meet is usually in the district. Invitational is usually a broader group from across the state or several nearby states.

Cross country in the fall is usually 5k, and on grass field trails.

Winter/ indoor track has specific distances like the 300m, 500m, 1000m and 1600, on an indoor track.

Spring/outdoor track usually has 100m sprints, 100m hurdles, 400m, 800, 1600, 3200 and relays. (4 by 100, 4 by 400, etc) and field events like shot put, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Additional newbie questions:

What is the difference between a meet and an invitational?

At meets or invitationals, is there a limit to the number of runners a high school team can enter (the seven best runners or whatever) or does everyone on the team get to run?

Most schools will have dual or three-way meets once during the week. Two or three schools compete. Every kid on the team will get to run. Often, just two races. Boys' 5K, Girls' 5K.

Then there will be invitationals many Saturdays. There are several different formats, but typically, there's a varsity and a JV heat. Sometimes a freshman race. If this is the case, most coaches will send 7 kids for varsity, 7 for JV, and 7 for freshman. So the coach would typically pull out the 7 fastest freshmen, then the 14 fastest runners would make up varsity and JV.

The spots can be malleable. Some kids move up from JV as they get faster. Depends on how deep the team is and how competitive the coach is.

If you're not one of those 21 runners (or 42 if you add boys and girls together, you don't go. That can be an incentive, too. One of my kids ran for a very competitive program, and getting invited to invitationals was a sign of his progress.

(Previous questions pertain to FCPS not MCPS which may make a difference)

Additional newbie questions:

What is the difference between a meet and an invitational?

At meets or invitationals, is there a limit to the number of runners a high school team can enter (the seven best runners or whatever) or does everyone on the team get to run?

5K is the main distance. Some races will have a JV race of 1.86 miles. (I guess there could be other distances, too, but this is what I generally see.)

Anonymous wrote:I asked my son's assistant coach this same question and he said meets are typically 5K for high schoolers, although some races may be shorter.

Thanks! Yes, I should have specified MCPS high school.

I asked my son's assistant coach this same question and he said meets are typically 5K for high schoolers, although some races may be shorter.

I'm completely ignorant on this- are there different distances at meets or always 3 miles (or 5k)?