Why do I believe there is a disconnect between Track & Field and the United States population?
What I believe can be done to resolve this
Upfront, I believe people think of track kids as "weirdos" who want to do nothing but run and eat healthily. Beyond that, track is difficult since if we are to place ourselves in the same situation as the athletes it is very laborious. I can easily grab a basketball, try to dunk, and know that it is hard. That is why when we see professionals or college players do this we are amazed and appalled. Now to try to run a sub-4 mile or throw a shotput is very difficult as it either takes an immense amount of exertion or we don't have the standards/environment (jump pit, throwing circle, calibrated shot, etc.) to do it. This creates a disconnect as most do not or can not put themselves in the same shoes as the athletes as easily as other sports.
To resolve both these issues, I believe there needs to be more extensive coverage. Compared to other sports, T&F gets very little prime tv coverage like on ESPN or other major sports programs. Another issue is that most coverage is hidden behind a pay-wall so that people interested can't even view the content. True competition has to also be brought back to the sport. With more reliance on pacers and pacing lights, it makes it feel like there is no point in watching a race until halfway or three/fourths the way through. People love the competition and the anticipation of "who is going to win!" The general public has no idea how hard these times are besides "fast" so to have a more competitive race would be more beneficial over a fast race if we want more interest in the sport.