Currently, I’m a 200m sprinter on the Varsity Track Team, and I have decent long distance running skills - enough to get me on the Varsity Cross Country Team. Even though cross - country is not related to 200m, it will look good on college apps to have two varsity sports. What do you guys think?
You will become a better sprinter if you run XC. Maybe you will find that your real strength is in distance or mid distance events if you start training at that level. Distance running requires a special discipline and one of our HS coaches says that running XC is like adding 100 points to your SAT.
The first question should be:
Do you enjoy running?
Do you want to try to improve your sprinting?
Do you want to keep in shape over the school year for spring track?
If so, then join XC.
Sports are great for your application but should not be the reason you do it.
What’s your best 200 time? Are you a guy or gal?
If you’re serious about either sport, you cannot be successful doing both distances. The 200 is a short sprint and uses your fast twitch muscles; XC the opposite. So if you really like XC, move over to the 800m which makes more sense and you’ll be able to do both sports and have opportunity to do well
Yes! Cross country is a great sport. I do not enjoy it as much as track but it is really fun. Just be prepared to put in 40+ miles a week to work hard if you want to be on varsity.