Whatever the basketball team does to keep kids fit, it works. We've actually got a pretty good program, producing one current NBA player and 2-3 division one prospects annually. Our best 400m runner a few years ago played basketball, and though it would have been nice having him in indoor, he was always ready and able to work when track rolled around. Basketball and soccer are the two sports where I never worry if a kid takes a season off of running.

He also might switch to running full time. I'm not really looking forward to trying to sell him on indoor track, but if he runs as well as I expect during cross country then it may not be an issue. That would actually be nice. My policy is to not hard sell underclassmen, just a simple "we'd love to have you" for winter and spring track. But I am duty-bound to push a bit harder on juniors and it's a conversation I really don't like.