Posted: November 19, 2007

Athletics (RWire): Growth in High School Cross Country and Outdoor Track & Field Participation

Girls overall participation number reaches record high; boys number #2 all-time The National Federation of State High School Associations recently released the athletics participation numbers for the 2006-07 school year. Once again both Cross Country and Outdoor Track and Field had increases. Over the six year period from 2001-02 to last year, Cross Country grew by 14.5% to 183,376 for girls and 13.1% to 216,085 for boys. The one-year increase from 2005-06 to 2006-07 was about 4% for each gender. For Outdoor Track and Field, the six-year increase was 6.9% to 444,181 for girls and 10.2% to 544,180 for boys, with a one-year increase of 1.1% for girls and 1.9% for boys. Similar to recent years, 46% of high school cross country participants and 45% of outdoor track and field participants are female. Figures broken down by state reveal that just 2 states ­ Texas and California - had 26% of all Cross Country and 24% of all Outdoor Track and Field participants last year. Of the top 10 states in participation, California had the greatest one-year growth for Cross Country: 14.9% up for girls and 13.2% for boys. California and Florida tied for largest one-year increase in Girls Outdoor Track and Field (7.5%) and three states had significant increases in Boys Outdoor Track and Field ­ CA (10.8%), WI (9.5%) and FL (8.9%). Overall for all sports, the girls participation number reached an all-time high of over 3 million, while the boys participation number was #2 all-time (4.3 million). See NFHS.org for more details. Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director (805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016 Ryan@RunningUSA.org www.RunningUSA.org. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest