College Recruitment

High School Running Distance

9 years ago 09/28/2014 8:20pm EDT

Hello!!

I'm a Junior in California Southern Section Division 1. So this is my problem:

I am hoping to be recruited by several of the top cross country programs in the nation (U of O, Indiana, Wisconsin, Portland, NAU,Colorado etc.)So to take initiative, I have completed several online questionnaires and have never heard anything back. I know its sort of unusual to get noticed through that way but this is my issue. I've been looked at and talked to by a few big name schools (UCLA, FSU) but none of the ones I'm looking for. In every questionnaire I let the school know that I have been running since 8 years old. I want to know if colleges see that as a bad thing. If they're left with the idea that I may burn out. I've been ranked each year in high school, breaking 15:00 for 3 miles two years in a row.Freshman year for XC I was ranked top 15 in the state. My times sophomore year would have put me top 20 in the state. I had a less than stellar freshman and sophomore track season.

Is it the fact that I have been running for so long, the amount of competition with California runners, or my lack of success in track that is causing me to be unnoticed by colleges??

9 years ago 09/28/2014 8:33pm EDT

re: LBCrossCountry

Moore leaguer?

I went to Wilson a long long time ago.

Have you won anything? league titles or anything like that?

9 years ago 09/29/2014 8:08pm EDT

re: LBCrossCountry

They can't call you. Call them. Junior year track times matter the most

9 years ago 09/29/2014 9:54pm EDT

re: LBCrossCountry

LBCrossCountry wrote:
lack of success in track

Cross country times don't mean jack squat. ESPECIALLY in Southern California. Let me guess, you did that at Woodbridge two years in a row didn't you? So did everyone else. I don't say this to be a jackass, but realize that these schools you listed are getting flooded by guys who've run low 9:0x/mid-low 4:1x/mid-low 1:5x. Track marks are a far better indicator of potential in college at the highest level...and the track doesn't lie. The rules just changed so that juniors can be called now starting Sep. 1 of your junior year...but don't expect any from the heavy hitters...or any other power five conference schools until you're under some combination of 9/4:10/1:52 your JUNIOR track season. Also...the fact that you're from Southern California certainly doesn't help. Coaches have a love/hate relationship with California kids. Go watch a recent interview of Mark Wetmore's on their web site..."a kid who's running X:XX in Maine has a whole lot more potential than a kid who's running that time out of Southern California." - Basically what he said. I wouldn't say that the length of time you've been running or that you're from Southern California is necessarily a black mark...but it isn't helping you if you're on "the bubble."

Go beat the best in your state, win a state championship, qualify individually for footlocker or NXN (footocker is still more impressive), break the aforementioned marks. And then go e-mail those coaches. Still don't expect major love or any scholarship money. You ARE going to have to set yourself a part more because you're from Southern California & have been running since you're 8.

9 years ago 09/29/2014 10:21pm EDT

re: LBCrossCountry

The fact that you have competing for a long time won't be a factor. Some coaches will avoid the high mileage HS programs but youth running won't be a hinderance.

Keep contacting the programs you are interested in but understand that they have a line of guys out the door that want to get on the team. A family friend is a freshman at one of the programs you list and it took a loooonnnnggg time for him to secure a walk/on spot.

Be patient.

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