I'm a long time runner who has competed at Division II and III small school CC/Track. I am currently a distance coach at my Alma mater. My head coach gave the entire team the following workout to do as "conditioning" even though conditioning ended several weeks ago.

The workout he gave:
8x400m, 6x300m, 4x200m, and 2x100m
Recovery began when the FIRST person crossed the line.
There was no break in between step down to the faster interval.

I have NEVER seen this workout in any of my training. What I would like to know is what you as coaches/runners think of the workout and what approach I should take to prevent this coach from doing this workout to a group of high school runners every Monday and Wednesday (with a meet every Tuesday as scheduled by the Athletic Department).

It makes me want to cry to see such things being done.

If you are the head coach of the boys or girls or both programs and you accepted to be the head coach it is your responsibility to follow such as the schedule and other matters of school administrators. The problem is that you may be an assistance coach with much experience and maybe a teacher on staff or walk-on. The problem is that you have a vast amount of experience with no control which is aggravating and stressfull which you cannot control the destiny of others and the total program. If you are the assistance coach your responsibility is to assist the coach with his philosophy without complaining you may have accepted the job as an assistance. Ask if you can suggest to developmentally improve the program. The head coach hears you out and you give him options it doesn't mean he will except your recommendations. Being an assistance coach is very difficult with experience you have to learn to listen and be patient and speak when ask. Be not critical, criticism standing outside and looking within does not improve the organization.

The question you ask is it punishment or conditioning? Due to the circumstances the meets are on Tuesdays. I would not consider it punishment due to the cirsumstances of administrators setting up the schedule. I would call it "Applying the Principles of Training". Personally I am involve setting up the schedule with all the head coaches in our league and the athletic directors giving us the opportunities to schedule our league meets. After the final league scheduling is done the coaches in our league then schedule invitationals and create workouts.