Best 800m University

Hi Thomas,

I am an alum of University of Missouri, they took me from 1:55 to 1:49. There are a number of fast guys out there, including alums Derrick Peterson (1:45) and Tim Dunne (1:47), as well as current students Neville Miller (1:47) and a couple underclassmen who I think are at 1:48 and 1:49. They know their stuff for the event. I linked the coach's (Jared Wilmes) email address to this so you can contact him if you want.

the razorbacks

UPenn easily outclasses all in terms of championship performers in the 800m. Sam Burley, 2003 NCAA Champ, still works out with the team and recent All-American Courtney Jaworski is poised to improve on his 7th place finish at last year's NCAA meet. Charlie Powell knows how to make good/decent 800m runners great. (See Burley's PRs before UPenn)

Hahahaha

This thread is great.

The original poster should have just asked, "What school do/did you go to?"

Hahahaha.

Go Cornell!

arkansas

I'm not an expert on the NCAA rules but if you're 20 and want to enter a university, you'd better check to see if you'll be able to run for four years at a D-I school. I think there's an age limit. If that is correct, then you'd better look at a D-II school because the age requirement is relaxed or nonexistant.

So, gang...what D-II schools pump out good middle distance runners? Like one poster suggested: is this just a thread so that everyone can list their own school? Easy starting research is to look at the D-II nationals results and see who is not only winning but what school are placing highly.

A couple of D-II schools which have had good success in developing 800 meters runners are U of South Dakota and Minnesota STate-Mankato. A few years ago South Dakota helped develop a guy named Neugebauer...he was about a 1:59 guy in high school and to 10 or 11 seconds off that in college and has continued to improve post-college. I think he is or was running for Nike Farm Team.

michigan, u penn (not penn state)

upenn outclasses the rest in academics, its a great pick

In most cases, I don't think it's the program that pumps out the athletes as much as it is the athletes desire and talent that takes them upward. In two of the schools mentioned (Kent State and USD) that definitely appears to be the case. Now, please don't read that to mean that I'm ragging on the coaches as they definitely had a part in their development. Having said that, I think you will see a drop off in middle distance at Kent State under Mark Croghan and a corresponding rise in steeplechasing there unless Kent brings in a middle distance coach who can maintain the continuity of the MD group-particularly during cc.

Has Negs really improved post collegiately?? I saw him running those times at USD. He is a specimen though.

Its nice to see people sticking up for their own universities but if you want to go to a top tier mid distance school then look no further than one of these fine schools

Georgetowne

Arkansas

American

Michigan is probally the best in terms of people to train with and the crew up in Ann Arbor. But I do like coach Roy in UCONN, he gets a lot of flack because of his intensity but if you listen and can be a real athlete by taking criticism and not always being pampered you will have a lot of fun. Most runners have always been runners and have not been subjected to an intense program. Coach Roy is like a football or basketball coach where he will get in your face and let you know you f***ed up or whatever else is on his mind. THis intensity has gotten him major sucess over the years. SO much in fact that his coaching of Dan WIlson I feel was the Major factor in impmenting the Regional System in outdoor track.

On his character, I was recruited heavily by UCONN but did not go. Coach Roy still cheered for me durring cross and outdoor and congragulated me when I made my first nationals. I dont think every coach would remember runners that almost came to their college or even congragulate them.

Go Coach ROY

GO UCONN

Arkansas is the only place to go - you will not be labeled as an 800 guy there - coach mac will make you a 800/1500 guy and possible even get you to run well in cross - roe (one of the hogs top 800 guys) ran 31:30 or so this past weekend for 10k xc!! that's the kind of strength you need to run 53 sec. quarters back to back!

johnny utah wrote:

u penn

werd!!

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS! THey had the best 4 x 800 Meter team last year. They have produced solid 800 Meter runners over the past several seasons. Christian Smith and Lizzie Roman-Del Valle to name a few. Both men and women.

ivy league results wrote:

UPenn easily outclasses all in terms of championship performers in the 800m. Sam Burley, 2003 NCAA Champ, still works out with the team and recent All-American Courtney Jaworski is poised to improve on his 7th place finish at last year's NCAA meet. Charlie Powell knows how to make good/decent 800m runners great. (See Burley's PRs before UPenn)

Obviously they don't outclass all in terms of championship performers...you just proved that with your post so check yourself

But as for Upenn they have done very well most recently with Jaworski who ran a 146 last year and is havinga great cross country season. ANd burley ran a 145 there

As for Uconn..i was going to say them as well. I've heard a lot of negative things about their coach, mostly about him just being a hardass....but the results speak for themselves. Joel Legare goes from a 156 guy to a 147.9 guy, and ran 148.2 indoors last year taking 3rd at us nationals. Logan jones went from a 152 in hs to a 148 at uconn and still has 2 years left i believe. And they did just get a great new 800 runner in Gagnon. They have a good stable there and a good recent track of success.

Then there's Michigan who turned Ellerton from a 149 to a 146.2, Willis froma 149 to a 145. And had even more success with 1500 runners. Ellerton ran 358 in the mile, Woods 357, Brannen 335 1500, willis 332. So if you want a school where there will already be people ready to push you and help you progress, especially if you want to be a 1500 runner down the line then Michigan would be the place.

Dude stay the heck away from Virginia Tech.

Has anybody contacted you? With that time you should have gotten some calls from D1 teams.

In response to your DII question, Chico State has had several 1:48 guys the last few years. One got 2nd at nationals last year and was ranked 1st going in. Not bad for DII.

U-Penn is amazing. The coach brings a guy out about every two years that came in around 1:50-1:53 in high school and turns them into a 1:45-1:47. Same Burley was the most recent guy and he runs for asics now.