Developing National Champions: Moral Dilemmas Surrounding Investment into Youth Running

Across the country, youth, prep, and collegiate running records are falling, with specialized young runners breaking barriers that have stood for years. The youth sports wave is not unique to running; many youths actively participate in sports year round, whether it is one sport or many. Parents are pouring money into their children with the hope they develop into superstar professionals raking in millions of dollars. However, for running, this equation does not follow the same logic as team sports such as basketball and soccer. Although exceptional outcomes for youth athletes can lead to future professional success, injury risk and burnout are common for runners. Therefore, investment into youth running can increase the professional outcomes for American runners, all the way to the marathon distance at world championships. However, there are moral questions concerning youth sports investment and practical difficulties raised by a lack of current funding.

While formerly reserved for professional runners, competing at a nationally acclaimed level has become possible for younger athletes, with national records currently falling at an unprecedented rate. In a sport defined solely by time, comparison across generations is easily possible, allowing running experts to correctly mark the current era of running as the fastest in history. The gap between high school and professional runners has never been smaller. High profile youth athletes have been thrust in the spotlight, such as former North Carolina State cross country and track superstar Katelyn Touhy. The current Adidas professional runner was a national talking point following three straight high school cross country national titles, but more importantly, she distinguished herself at competitions with professional runners, consistently outclassing all but the top of the sport.

Advances in different aspects of running have facilitated competing at a professional level as a high school or collegiate athlete, including shoe technologies, training plans, and nutrition. High school athletes have adopted these technological advancements alongside professionals, and the result has been historical rates of record breaking. This past indoor track season was capped at Nike Indoor Nationals, where seven national records were set, highlighted by both the men’s and women’s 5000 meters (Dutch 2024). This represents a single race, and over the past ten years, much of the high school national record book has been rewritten. Additionally, following high school success, athletes are transitioning into collegiate roles, and have continued to break records. Following her high school success, Touhy continued to repeatedly represent herself well at professional meets, and set the collegiate 5K record in the process. Male athletes such as Nico Young, Grant Fisher, and Cooper Teare have followed a similar trajectory, winning collegiate national championships alongside their strong representation in professional races. Young runners are using new technology and information to propel themselves into success at a young age, then continuously building on that success into the collegiate and professional ranks.

Beginning running at a young age can have material benefits for long term success, especially as athletes develop mental toughness and agility. As developed in previous literature, building mental toughness while running is a continuous process. In order to succeed as a runner, athletes must overcome mental peaks and valleys, ultimately implementing coping strategies to stave off doubts during important races (Parish 2024). As building mental toughness requires multiple years to fully understand, the younger a runner starts this undertaking, the more prepared they become entering the three distinct stages of competition. Having started running competitively freshman year of high school, I had only begun to fully understand the complexities of racing by senior year. While some athletes may expedite this experience, the reality is only through the process of plateauing, failing, and learning can mental toughness truly be developed. If instead, a runner initiated this development in fifth grade, following the same four year cycle, they would enter with the racing knowledge I had accumulated by freshman year of high school. Therefore, there would be less effort expended on developing mental toughness, paving the way for greater achievement during the peak physical years of their prep career.

Long term aerobic activity has been linked to increased mental agility, providing further benefits to young runners. In a University of Arizona study on the neural effects of athletic activities, completed by matching endurance athletes and age-matched non-athletes, evidence provided significant differences in resting state functional connectivity, likely due to the engagement of multiple cognitive actions including planning, inhibition, monitoring, multitasking, and motor control while running (Raichlen, Bharadwaj, et al 2016). The study demonstrated that long term aerobic activity had a greater impact on mental agility, corroborating that additional years running improves an athletes mental performance. By the time a runner enters high school, every additional year of running can only positively impact their ability to mentally handle the stresses of racing. This effect is compounded further during later competition stages such as college and professional races.

The benefits of youth running for long term outcomes are not limited to the mental development, as study results illustrate the material benefits to becoming a top runner as an adolescent. Currently, running literature posits the largest influence in running success is the number of miles an athlete can complete, especially if they are consecutively compounded. For example, marathon runners will often run up to 140 miles per week in an effort to build aerobic capacity. In a European sports experts study conducted on youth athletes transition into the professional ranks, athletes that experienced success at the U18 or U20 level, defined by being ranked in the top 50 of their sport at least once, had a higher probability of attaining success at the professional level. In the following chart, the main group represents the more successful group of youth athletes.

Figure 1: Career Trajectory of U18 Athletes

Percentage of U18 athletes ranked in the top 50 of their sport at the ages of U18, U20, and 22+

The study utilized multiple sports; however, it concluded that “the most successful track and field youth athletes are significantly more likely to succeed as a senior athlete than their less successful peers” (Bezuglov, Emanov, et al 2022). The results match current coaching philosophies and athlete experience: given more time to build an aerobic base and mental toughness, an athlete will achieve greater long term success.

The successful transition from a nationally ranked youth to a professional runner transition can be further extrapolated to the highest levels of American distance running. A study conducted on the effectiveness of predicting American marathon national champions based on racing outcomes such as a high school and collegiate national championships demonstrates that youth success positively correlates to future success. While additional mileage or training at higher elevation had confounding effects on marathon success based on the model used, championships at the prep and collegiate level had significant positive effects on predicting future success (Parish 2024). The results indicate that athletes able to achieve national success at a young age, assuming a healthy trajectory, will be positioned better than their peers to win American marathon championships as a professional. As a result, both studies indicate professional attainment is correlated with high intensity youth running. While these results indicate aspiring professional runners should begin high intensity training young, positive professional outcomes are not guaranteed.

Especially considering successful professional development is not assured for youth runners, over-extensive training as a young athlete can have negative effects. Alongside the conclusion that achievement at the U18 and U20 level can correlate to professional success, the study on youth athletic transition also determined that, “only 23.5% of successful track and field athletes (ranked in top-100) at U18 became a successful senior athlete” (Bezuglov, Emanov, et al 2022). Despite desirable outcomes for some athletes, more than 75% of top 18-year olds failed to achieve any success. Furthermore, a study, overseen by doctors associated with Sports Health magazine, examining the effects of sports specialization at different ages determined that late stage specialization had a greater positive result on professional outcomes. In this case “sports specialization is defined as intense, year-round training in a single sport with the exclusion of other sports”, and when comparing athletes that specialized before or after the age of 15, later specialization resulted in higher achievement (Jayanthi, Pinkham, et al 2013). Many factors can contribute to a stagnation of initially high achieving runners, prominent among them being injuries and burnout. In fact the sports specialization study attributed injury and physiological stresses as two key reasons for athletes failing to attain high level professional success. Especially in a sport such as running that places high physical stress on ligaments, tendons, and bones, and a large mental burden as a result of quality training mandating daily runs, youth running can cause large negative returns for the athlete. Although high achievement can be attributed to successfully developing as a young runner, this must be managed with the risk of burnout, both mentally and physically.

As a result of the uncertainty surrounding long term athletics outcomes, outsized investment into youth sports from parents may be a questionable decision, especially if it comes at the expense of other forms of investment. Lavish spending on their child’s athletic endeavors at a young age presents a host of issues for the child, even outside of the question of monetary allocation. Young athletes are confronted with high expectations and stress, which are strongly correlated with the amount of investment into them. The more money and time spent, the greater the expectation placed upon the child to succeed, both in the short and long term. This will typically manifest itself in resentment, burnout, or disinterest. These issues are compounded by the time commitment, which will likely come at the expense of other activities such as school work or time with friends. Even for the unique child that is prepared to handle such expectations, the financial cost for families is immense, especially in today’s youth sports environment.

Families of youth athletes are expected to contribute substantially monetarily, even at the potential expense of other areas of their child’s development. Parents regularly are asked to spend thousands of dollars annually, with some spending upwards of $20,000. In total, “the U.S. youth-sports economy–which includes everything from travel to private coaching to apps that organize leagues and livestream games–is now a $15.3 billion market, according to WinterGreen Research, a private firm that tracks the industry” (Gregory 2017). Private teams, trainers, and coaches have capitalized on the dedication parents possess for their children. Touting their success in turning out high school or college stars, it is easy for a parent to become invested in seeing their child flourish.

For families that are strapped financially, this commitment may result in less investment into their educational outcomes or a college fund. Stressing the low percentage of athletes that get to play Division 1 sports, Travis Dorsch, founding director of the Families in Sport Lab at Utah State University, states, “‘I’ve seen parents spend a couple of hundred thousand dollars pursuing a college scholarship they could have set it aside for the damn college’” (Gregory 2017). By working off a simple example the math becomes clear. A family investing $20,000/year from the ages of 6 to 16 would spend $200,000 on youth sports. Invested properly, that would handily cover the cost of in-state tuition to a quality university. If the goal is to attain a college scholarship, such high spending on youth sports does not make sense financially, especially if the child fails to achieve the desired level of athletics and is prevented from leaving college debt free.

Further questions arise around the politics surrounding college admissions and sports, specifically regarding the intent of higher education’s seeming obsession with athletics. Since collegiate sports generate massive revenue for universities, there is incentive to invest heavily into athletics. This may serve as a contradiction to the mission statement of many universities, whose stated purpose is to educate students. The time Division 1 athletes are expected to commit to their sports raises red flags regarding the possibility of fully succeeding in the classroom. Furthermore, college admissions frequently lower admission standards for athletes, saturating the admissions process at the detriment of high achieving, purely academic students on the cut line of admission. The politics that arise from parents and athletes alike chasing acceptance to a selective college through the sports process further complicates the idea of investing into youth sports. It is difficult to rationalize the value of a college education from a selective university if admission was granted through athletics and little time was spent in the classroom. Without safeguards present to ensure each athlete is attaining the level of education required, youth sports investment threatens to have long lasting effects on the athletes.

An alternative option for investing into youth sports, specifically running, is through institutions; however, there exists a lack of current infrastructure that makes this possibility unlikely. The largest athletic institution that covers running for the United States is the USA Track and Field (USATF) association. Considering the organization manages professional and youth track races, as well as acts as a governing body, it stands poised to invest in youth athletics. In practice this may take the form of a larger number of sponsored track or cross country teams across the country. Funds allocated to financial assistance would make the sport more accessible to families. Furthermore, youth running suffers from a lack of awareness, which could be remedied with larger races and additional promotional materials. However, an analysis of the 2022 financial statement of USATF demonstrates that current net assets of the organization stand at a little over $500,000 (USATF 2022). The total budget before liabilities is only $35 million, with much of that being already spent on marketing and organizing races. As a result, it is unlikely that without an influx of external funding, the current US institutions can support additional youth investment.

Although institutions may be unable to invest on a large scale, funding to increase athletic participation may be possible through corporate sponsorships. Following a Supreme Court ruling allowing college athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness (NIL), running companies have begun sponsoring more than professional athletes. The initial case centered around the longtime collegiate athletics system, in which the payment athletes received came in the form of an academic scholarship. Payments beyond a scholarship were deemed impermissible benefits, as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sought to define athletes of colleges as “amateurs”. Despite the millions of dollars generated by college athletics, none of the money was returned to the players generating the NCAA revenue. The Supreme Court case overturned the amateur model, paving the way for non-professionals to be compensated. The process is still in its infancy, and payment disclosures are rare. Sponsorships continue to revolve around name brand, meaning college athletes will rarely be compensated at the level of a professional. One trickle down effect was high school athletes no longer must retain their own amateur status, and now can also profit off of themselves. As a result, running companies have quickly moved into the high school ranks to distribute sponsorships.

By setting the precedent of signing runners to sponsorship deals to promote their brands, companies have given youth athletes access to systemic sports related funding for the first time. Oregon sprinter Mia Brahe-Pederson was one of the first to sign, inking a deal with Nike as she starts her senior attempting to break Allyson Felix’s national outdoor 200m record (Binder 2023). Although Mia signed as a junior, with little separation from college, the deal still opens the door for larger investment into younger runners. Having completed previous campaigns aimed at building a youth running culture, Nike may be willing to experiment with building out systematic investment into youth running programs. The result may take the financial burden off parents, furthering athletic goals without compromising investment into children’s educational outcomes.

The current landscape of youth distance running is poised for a shake-up, especially as runners rewrite record books. The transition to a sports atmosphere dominated by athletes profiting off of their NIL sets the landscape for money to filter into the high school and middle school ranks. Therefore, parents will be further encouraged to invest in their children, chasing the ideal of their kid making thousands of dollars before graduating high school. With USTAF and other running institutions poorly situated to control the flow of funds, or direct money into widespread beneficial activities, a further splintering of the sport is possible.

Already young athletes must dedicate resources to the best shoes and nutrition, and the gap between those with money and those without may grow wider. Historically the sport has been inclusive, with the only investment being a pair of running shoes. However, this form of competition may already be over. Currently, the sport would benefit heavily from larger investment that is overseen by a strong governing body. If this institution materializes, the United States may be poised to properly prepare professional runners to compete on the world stage. Otherwise, youth running may be negatively impacted, leaving parents forced to decide how to invest in their children’s future.

Works Cited

Bezuglov, Eduard. “Successful Young Athletes Have Low Probability of Being Ranked Among the Best Senior Athletes, but This Is Higher When Compared to Their Less Successful Peers.” Frontiers of Psychology, vol. 13, 1 June 2022. Frontiers, www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.869637/full. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

Binder, Doug. “Mia Brahe-Pederson Signs NIL Deal with Nike.” DyeStat, 3 July 2023, www.runnerspace.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=665336. Accessed 27 Mar. 2024.

Dutch, Taylor. “7 High School National Records Fall over the Weekend.” Runner’s World, 12 Mar. 2024, www.runnersworld.com/news/a60178817/6-high-school-national-records-broken/. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.

Gregory, Sean. “How Kids’ Sports Became a $15 Billion Industry.” Time, 24 Aug. 2017, time.com/magazine/us/4913681/september-4th-2017-vol-190-no-9-u-s/. Accessed 17 Mar. 2024.

Jayanthi, Neeru, et al. “Sports Specialization in Young Athletes.” Sports Health, May 2013, pp. 251–57. National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3658407/. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

Parish, Adam. “Breaking Plateaus: The Delicate Science Behind Running Mentally.” Medium, 3 Feb. 2024, medium.com/@apspam06/breaking-plateaus-the-delicate-science-behind-running-mentally-ce278c4cd1a3. Accessed 25 Mar. 2024.

— -. “Predicting National Champions: The Physical Inputs to Determine a Marathon Winner.” Medium, 6 Mar. 2024, medium.com/writing-340/predicting-national-champions-the-physical-inputs-to-determine-a-marathon-winner-31b80d8a3d1e. Accessed 25 Mar. 2024.

Raichlen, David A., et al. “Differences in Resting State Functional Connectivity between Young Adult Endurance Athletes and Healthy Controls.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, vol. 10, 29 Nov. 2016. Frontiers, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00610/full. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

USTAF 2022 Audited Financial Statements. United States Track and Field, 2022, www.flipsnack.com/USATF/audited-financial-statement-2022/full-view.html. Accessed 17 Mar. 2024.