Anonymous wrote:DD started track/XC this year as a 9th grader. No prior experience. She wants to create some goals for herself, but doesn’t have any idea how much improvement can she expect to see in 4 years of HS.
She dropped several minutes on her 5K in the fall, but doesn’t have many times for winter track because so many meets were cancelled. Guessing her 1600m time is currently around 6 minutes, if that matters.
Depends on too many unknown details. What were her XC times and how much practice? Any summer training?
6 min would be fairly solid for a 9th grade F again depending on training volume since 9/1. Basically the worse her coaching and training has been since 9/1, the better a 6 min mile is now. But, its pretty good period.
As noted, the trajectory for girls is hard to predict. Biology plays a big role. Sometimes an unhelpful role in girls while boys almost always improve with age. Just the way it is, but many girls *do* improve and either way its a great sport and she will make great friends and wonderful memories.
Goals should be training based...miles a week, miles over the summer, certain workouts complete, etc. Times will only drop to her potential with with proper preparation. Setting goals for races may lead to disappointment unless the hay has been put in the barn. Focus on the preparation and let the times fall where they fall.