Just five people have attempted it and only two have finished.  That’s all you need to know. (Photo courtesy of Run Across America)

  This is the eighth in a series of interviews with coaches of whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC teams in 2012. 

It's cross country time!!

Amy-Eloise Neale, Tall Order For Washington Star (via Running Times) (photo by Pat Bendrzick)

  Included are the top 2012 U.S. boys’ individual and team cross country performances through August 25.  (Photo -  Andres Arroyo, Colonial HS, FL, #13 U.S. ranked.)

Included are the top 2012 U.S. girls’ individual and team cross country performances through August 25.  (Photo -  Ashley Erba, Warsaw HS, IN, #4 U.S. ranked.)

Ten Penn State alumni are shooting for a new World Record to benefit The Kevin Dare Foundation, the charity announced. (via www.statecollege.com)

  This is the seventh in a series of interviews with athletes whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC runners in 2012; with Hannah Meier, senior, Grosse Point South HS, Grosse Point Farms, Michigan.  (photo from armorytrack.com)

  This is the seventh in a series of interviews with coaches of whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC teams in 2012.  Photo -  Lake Braddock’s Hannah Christen and Sophie Chase, by marleenvandenneste.com.

MileSplit’s Preseason Top 25 National Cross Country Rankings, Boys Teams;  New Jersey’s Christian Brothers Academy HS starts the season ranked #1.

  This is the sixth in a series of interviews with athletes whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC runners in 2012; with Anna Maxwell, junior, San Lorenzo Valley HS, Felton, California.

MileSplit’s Preseason Top 25 National Cross Country Rankings; Boys Individuals

Ajee Wilson who had previously declared her intention to attend and compete for Florida State University has decided to defer college for year in order to pursue a spot on the 2013 World Championship team.

  MileSplit’s Preseason Top 25 National Cross Country Rankings, Girls Teams;  New York’s Fayetteville-Manlius HS starts the season ranked #1.

  MileSplit’s Preseason Top 25 National Cross Country Rankings; Girls Individuals

  This is the seventh in a series of interviews with coaches of whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC teams in 2012.   (photo from the Southlake Carroll cross country website)

  This is the fifth in a series of interviews with athletes whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC runners in 2012; with Erin Finn, senior, West Bloomfield HS, Michigan.  (photo by footlockercc.com)

Apply these lessons to your own training and take your running to the next level. (via Competitor.com)

  This is the sixth in a series of interviews with coaches of whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC teams in 2012. 

  This is the fourth in a series of interviews with athletes whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC runners in 2012; with Clare Flanagan, junior, The Blake School, Hopkins, MN.  (photo by Down the Backstretch)

St. Benedict's Prep coach, Marty Hannon has announced that Edward Cheserek's academics will take the forefront during the fall, leaving the defending Footlocker National Champ's XC race schedule up in the air. Jim Lambert reports for The Star Ledger.                                     

  This is the fifth in a series of interviews with coaches of whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC teams in 2012. 

  This is the third in a series of interviews with athletes whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC runners in 2012; with Julie Bos, Christian HS, Grand Rapids, Michigan.  (photo by durblady)

  This is the fourth in a series of interviews with coaches of whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC teams in 2012. 

On the final day of competition Meb Keflezighi backed up his Athens 2004 silver medal in the marathon by placing 4th in an impressive showing!  More coverage inside! (Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee, imageofsport.com)

  This is the third in a series of interviews with coaches of whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC teams in 2012. 

This is the second in a series of interviews with athletes whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC runners in 2012; with Sophie Chase, Lake Braddock HS, Burke, Virginia. 

This is the second in a series of interviews with coaches of whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC teams in 2012.  (photo by KBRAZ2K)

The 2012 Olympic Track & Field events have been filled with so much disappointment (see Brigitte Foster-Hylton and LaShawn Merritt) and even more drama.

This is the first in a series of interviews with athletes whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC runners in 2012; with Maria Hauger, Shakopee High School, Shakopee, Minnesota.  (photo by shakopeenews.com)

This is the first in a series of interviews with coaches of whom MileSplit considers will be among the top USA HS XC teams in 2012.  (photo by Boulder Daily Camera newspaper)

Recapping the top high school performances in the AAU National Junior Olympics, 7/28-8/4; including Shawn Barber, senior, Kingwood Park HS, TX, pole vault -  18’3.5” (new U.S. high school record; old record – 18’3”, Tommy Skipper, Sandy HS, Oregon, 2003). 

Lots of national records and other great performances being set at the AAU meet in Texas!

Lukas Verzbicas, one of the most decorated high school distance runners of all time, was severely injured in a bicycle accident while riding outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. According to triathlete.com his mother Rasa  said, "he is in intensive care with a broken collar bone, blood in his lungs, and will need surgery in his back.