College XC

I'm going to give you what I know about a walk on at UB, a MAC school. He ran 1:55 and 4:25 his senior year of high school and UB took him as a walk on, he wasn't recruited by them. 26:09 on a fair course (not a superflat speedway) isn't a joke if you're on a club team though. Your best bet is to try and contact coaches or athletes on the teams you want to transfer to.

Yeah I have been thinking of contacting a few MAC coaches (Ohio University, Kent state, BGSU). But I am assuming they would like to see a 3k or 5k track time. Would like a 15:30 be good enough for a walk on spot?

ou and bgsu don't even have proper track teams

if you were looking at miami at all you'd need to be around 15flat or sub 8:40

PassOver wrote:

Yeah I have been thinking of contacting a few MAC coaches (Ohio University, Kent state, BGSU). But I am assuming they would like to see a 3k or 5k track time. Would like a 15:30 be good enough for a walk on spot?

No, but we'd be happy to take you at my average D3 NESCAC school

A lot of teams would say no and a lot of teams would let you on easily.

Since you aren't a superstar, what a coach will say to you would likely change year to year if team dynamics and strengths/weaknesses change.

A lot of it is out of your control, but if you can demonstrate drive and commitment to the team that will go a long way.

Also, you will likely be held to different standards as a transfer rather than a walk on freshman when they look at your times. Coaches see a freshman as a 4 or 5 year project and there are more possibilities there. Plus, regardless of athletic upside coaches hope they'll hopefully have a solid senior with at least 3 years experience at the end of it all. Seniors are valuable for anchoring the team, hopefully having a good intuition when it comes to training and racing at a college level, guiding freshmen, knowing where to go/what to do at meets, etc. As a transfer there is less time to develop you athletically and you'll be a novice when it comes to team culture and race experience for relatively more of your career, without being able to contribute as much experience to the team on the back end as a senior.

I get that. There aren't a bunch of coaches who are gonna jump on the chance to get an average transfer student. I figure there are some teams that could use a low 26 minute guy, but obviously it's not like nabbing up a 4:15/9:25 HS guy. But I suppose it won't hurt to email a few D2 coaches as well. Maybe schools like Ashland.

Yeah there are many D1 schools that would want you. Just a warning that if you see a similarly talented freshman join a team, it doesn't necessarily guarantee you would too. Going 26 low on your own training is good though. Keep rolling.

You should post your name and email address so all of the college coaches on this board know how to get ahold of you!