Elite Young Runners Are Becoming Freakishly Fast. Welcome to ‘Trackflation’
KoernerThe Big StoryJul 20, 2026 6:00 AMElite Young Runners Are Becoming Freakishly Fast. Welcome to ‘Trackflation’Four-minute miles are almost routine. Middle schoolers are beating college runners.
- ▪KoernerThe Big StoryJul 20, 2026 6:00 AMElite Young Runners Are Becoming Freakishly Fast.
- ▪Welcome to ‘Trackflation’Four-minute miles are almost routine.
- ▪Middle schoolers are beating college runners.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Brendan I. KoernerThe Big StoryJul 20, 2026 6:00 AMElite Young Runners Are Becoming Freakishly Fast. Welcome to ‘Trackflation’Four-minute miles are almost routine. Middle schoolers are beating college runners. Inside the youth track boom that’s turning kids and teens into speed machines.PHOTOGRAPH: Elijah AgursCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyA couple of years ago, my teenage son decided to spend the long New York winter running indoor track. An accomplished soccer player, he joined the team with the modest goal of staying fit during his main sport’s offseason, but before long his competitive streak kicked in. He trained like a demon for two months straight, brutalizing his legs and lungs with high-intensity workouts.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at WIRED.
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