DIII Freshman interested in transfer to DI

I'd say you could probably walk onto most D1 programs. Email the coach of the school you're thinking about applying to first though, just to be sure. They'll give you a quick and dirty answer.

Thanks I appreciate the advice..

As long as you're willing to run mostly local races only and run them unattached, the coach will probably have no problem letting you train with the team and put you on the official roster, at least for XC.

It depends on the school. There are some Division I school, especially in the southeast, that would love to have a 25:30 8k runner. You could possibly qualify for some scholarship money with that time. Email coaches and be specific with what you are looking for what will help you make a decision.

SUU is a top 25 program with really good academic schollys for transfers, check it out

formerD1 wrote:

As long as you're willing to run mostly local races only and run them unattached, the coach will probably have no problem letting you train with the team and put you on the official roster, at least for XC.

you're so annoying

Does it annoy you that I ran D1, or are you saying that I said something wrong?

At a top D1 program, 25:30 guys are a dime a dozen.

formerD1 wrote:

I'd say you could probably walk onto most D1 programs. Email the coach of the school you're thinking about applying to first though, just to be sure. They'll give you a quick and dirty answer.

They'll still need to get a release to talk with you about this. IE: your coach will know as soon as you start this.

Nah, no way you get in.

Lol jk man, you could do it. I ran at a mid major D1 school and you would have been top 7 with those times, some years top 5, on down years top 3.

I don't think that's a problem - if you tell your coach you're transferring for academic or personal reasons but would like to continue to run, nobody is going to criticize you for that.

Depends on the d1 school. There's some where you could be one of the top guys. But a lot of especially major conference schools have no interest in guys at that level and wouldn't even let you attempt to walk on.

I don't put much stock into the 8k because XC courses are all different and some could be short so I'm basing my analysis off the 5k time. 15:25 is not a fast time for a D1 runner even a freshman. If that's your ability level you're going to struggle to be competitive in any D1 conference.

My advice is don't switch for the sake of going D1. If you want to skip schools for academic or other reasons go for it. But you'll get cut or get no attention at most D1 schools and it will likely hinder your development. Everyone wants to compete at the highest level but for a lot of runners competing in a lower division will end up helping them become a better runner in the long run.

you can go to most d1 schools easy... smaller ones will give you a little money. get the 5k down to sub 15, which should be easy given your 8k and you will be able to at least walk on to all but the biggest.

Colin Cotton from Williams College did it, transferring to the University of Cincinnati. He then returned to Williams, where he is one of the top runners in all of DIII. He might have some good advice to share with you.

Most schools may be willing to let you walk on, at least XC. Every D1 XC team of men would love to have 7 guys whom consistently run sub-31 XC 10K. No D1 school has 7 guys that can do that! Even if you're only a XC specialist you could have fun @ a D1 school. How fast can you run 400 & 800 metres?

ironside wrote:

Most schools may be willing to let you walk on, at least XC. Every D1 XC team of men would love to have 7 guys whom consistently run sub-31 XC 10K. No D1 school has 7 guys that can do that! Even if you're only a XC specialist you could have fun @ a D1 school. How fast can you run 400 & 800 metres?

Ignore this guy. He has no idea what he's talking about. And what makes you think a 15:25 guy has any shot at sub 31 in cross. And by the way there are schools with 7 or more guys capable of that although talking times in cross is stupid because courses are so different.

I guess context is everything.

Where do you run now? Where are you looking to go?

If you like running, just remember that not all D1 programs have good coaching or quality teams. You might be better off just transferring to another D3 school if the academics and price is right.

Granted, not all 8k courses are equal, but there are numerous D1 teams that have slower runners than 25:30 in their varsity 7. Granted, on the better teams, you probably gotta pay your dues. If you can be patient, then you probably can walk in and stick. On the really good teams, unless you can really out-perform their preferred walk-ons that were recruited, then you might not stick.

responding to D1 guy: 15:25 5000 metres on track leads me to believe 10K of 32:46 on rolling terrain. Obviously he can improve! I add 40 seconds for 10K XC from 10,000 metres track. Name me schools with 7 guys who run sub-30:20 10K? Syracuse doesn't have seven sub-30:20 10,000 metres men! I asked for his 400 & 800 PB to gauge range for improvement.

ironside wrote:

responding to D1 guy: 15:25 5000 metres on track leads me to believe 10K of 32:46 on rolling terrain. Obviously he can improve! I add 40 seconds for 10K XC from 10,000 metres track. Name me schools with 7 guys who run sub-30:20 10K? Syracuse doesn't have seven sub-30:20 10,000 metres men! I asked for his 400 & 800 PB to gauge range for improvement.

I think you're under selling him with your time conversion. I give him close to 32 but even so your argument doesn't compute. Anyone can improve but you're asking for a lot of improvement and I'll bet my money on the guys who come into D1 who are capable of what the OP did or better out of high school.

My college team had 7 guys or more who ran or could have run under 31 on a cross course 4 of the 5 years I was at the school at least and we were never top ten at nats. A lot of guys never run the 10k on the track but I guarantee a decent number of schools have 7+ guys who could run 30:20. But this guy has done nothing to indicate he's capable of anything close to that. Everyone thinks it's so easy to improve but it doesn't work out for everyone.

ironside wrote:

responding to D1 guy: 15:25 5000 metres on track leads me to believe 10K of 32:46 on rolling terrain. Obviously he can improve! I add 40 seconds for 10K XC from 10,000 metres track. Name me schools with 7 guys who run sub-30:20 10K? Syracuse doesn't have seven sub-30:20 10,000 metres men! I asked for his 400 & 800 PB to gauge range for improvement.

Your math is way too aggressive.

My math:

15:25 5K track equals

32:20 10K track then

add 10 secs per mile for grass + more for hills

so, I would have him at

33:30 or higher for 10K XC

then, deduct for YTY improvement

I'll give hime 32:30, NOT sub-30:20!

But, they key point is that most D1 programs don't want a 15:25 5K track guy. They don't even want 15:25 5K XC guys en route on a 8K.

Better (not great) D1 guys are 15:00 +/- at 5K en route to a 24:30 - sub 25:00 8K.

Not saying the kid couldn't walk on somewhere, but unless he goes to a really bad D1 program, he ain't gonna compete much.