D1 teams that would take a 4:20 miler

Why do you want to he taken by a d1 school? Why not d2, d3, or NAIA?

SUU all the way

Letsbehonest, D1 schools are typically better than NAIA Schools. But please, what is the best school, regardless of size, for a 4:20 miler? I would second SUU.

I think a lot of them would let you walk on. If you're asking for admissions help, but no $, the list narrows. And, frankly, I don't think anyone on this board could definitely state which schools can give you admissions help without $.

I'd write off the top distance schools. I'd look at the middle to bottom of these regional rankings:

http://www.ustfccca.org/2014/11/featured/four-new-no-1-teams-in-final-division-i-xc-regional-team-rankings?doing_wp_cron=1415045493.0359330177307128906250

Context would be key here. What are your 800, 3200, 5K XC times? More important, what's your trajectory?

There is a huge difference between a guy who runs 4:45 as a Soph and 4:20 as a Jr vs 4:28 as a Soph and 4:20 as a Jr.

Are you a guy who approaches the mile from a strength in the 800? Or the 3200? Big difference between a 1:55, 4:20, 9:30 guy and a 2:00, 4:20, 9:15 guy.

I'd also want to know how much mileage you're running, your training age, and the level of competition you're running against. Also, if you're running these times at altitude, you get bonus points.

Best scenario would be a low mileage, only been running two years, runs against lousy competition at altitude and has shown great YTY improvement.

If I needed a MD guy, I'd like it if you had good 800 times. If I was looking for XC and 5 and 10K, I'd look for good 3200 times.

Lastly, when you're on the bubble, grades and scores matter.

Bottom line: it depends; contact coaches if you haven't already.

tea cake wrote:

Letsbehonest, D1 schools are typically better than NAIA Schools. But please, what is the best school, regardless of size, for a 4:20 miler? I would second SUU.

Better how?

Schools in the midwest would sign you. University of Kansas signs guys that run 4:20 I know this because I signed there last month.

Montana State. They took a 4:20 guy and turned him into a 3:55 guy.

If he's a good student some (maybe all) patriot league schools would be happy to get a 4:20 miler (Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, etc)

You have to talk to coaches to get an offer. No one goes off of time alone; at 4:20 you have to make a good impression, possibly be a resident, good grades or positive factors that help your case.

There are over 300 DI schools with programs. As a general rule:

Lower level and average DI would probably offer between books and tuition, if they have scholarships.

Good mid majors and lower level power fives, anywhere between walk on and a couple thousand depending on the situation.

Top half of the power 5 would probably offer books, or ask you to walk on, or ignore you

Patriot league, A-10, conferences like that would all be interested