Portland State University used Portland Distance Carnival as a substitute for conference as it's not at altitude, plus some unlucky injuries for some of their better runners at the end of the season. XC success first, then expansion into outdoor/indoor once the budget allows it. doing a great job considering how bare bones the money is there.
I can't speak for the original question in this thread as I'm no longer there, but I did volunteer coach with the current coaches in 2019-2021, so I'll give some insight into the program.
As mentioned, over the years, there had been a lot of turnover in the coaching staff with no real success. Hepburn became head track coach in 2017 and that's the same year Seitz came on as well. They decided to focus on distance at that time. So we are talking about a 5-year time span to build a program to LetsRun standards.
Some challenges with recruiting are the location (downtown Portland/commuter school), competition with established programs like UO, and of course, a lower athletic budget since it's not a football-centric school.
That said, from what I've seen, the coaches are great at selecting the right people for the program with a big focus on team compatibility, physical and mental health. I consider that a success.
The talented kids that remain in-state gravitate towards U of O, U of Portland, Western Oregon (D2), and Oregon State (women's program only). Portland State is a hard sell - no dedicated facility (they use a city park track), commuter/JC vibe (as Stephanie stated), and most students live well off of campus. They will get some talent from time-to-time (JC kids and transfers, academic underachievers, soccer washouts) but athletics is not a priority at PSU and the AD job was vacant for almost an entire year.
I can't speak for the original question in this thread as I'm no longer there, but I did volunteer coach with the current coaches in 2019-2021, so I'll give some insight into the program.
As mentioned, over the years, there had been a lot of turnover in the coaching staff with no real success. Hepburn became head track coach in 2017 and that's the same year Seitz came on as well. They decided to focus on distance at that time. So we are talking about a 5-year time span to build a program to LetsRun standards.
Some challenges with recruiting are the location (downtown Portland/commuter school), competition with established programs like UO, and of course, a lower athletic budget since it's not a football-centric school.
That said, from what I've seen, the coaches are great at selecting the right people for the program with a big focus on team compatibility, physical and mental health. I consider that a success.
Steph, where do the foreigners on the team live if they are commuter school with no dorms?
The major mistake that Portland State made, back in the day, was moving from D2 to D1. At the time, there was a perception that they were rivals for financial support in the Legislature with Oregon and Oregon State and having a sports program with a higher profile was going to be part of getting more money. It didn't work, if only because of the number of legislators who were Oregon and Oregon State alums.
I can't speak for the original question in this thread as I'm no longer there, but I did volunteer coach with the current coaches in 2019-2021, so I'll give some insight into the program.
As mentioned, over the years, there had been a lot of turnover in the coaching staff with no real success. Hepburn became head track coach in 2017 and that's the same year Seitz came on as well. They decided to focus on distance at that time. So we are talking about a 5-year time span to build a program to LetsRun standards.
Some challenges with recruiting are the location (downtown Portland/commuter school), competition with established programs like UO, and of course, a lower athletic budget since it's not a football-centric school.
That said, from what I've seen, the coaches are great at selecting the right people for the program with a big focus on team compatibility, physical and mental health. I consider that a success.
Steph, where do the foreigners on the team live if they are commuter school with no dorms?
I didn't mean everyone lives off-campus. I meant the student body as a whole, not just athletes, are largely comprised of students who commute from home or off-campus housing. It's not a "college town" vibe like UO.
Valid points...all reasons they should probably not be a distance only program. They will not be able to achieve success in distance and be able to expand into the other events, in a conference with Mountain schools and in a city with another, much better, distance only program. If they are urban and inexpensive why not go sprints/jumps?
Seitz has been doing an incredible job building the program. His latest recruiting class is top notch, that combined with transfers, will produce an NCAA XC national team in the next 2 years in the toughest region in the US. The one knock is that Portland is at sea level when most of the conference is at altitude.
Can’t really see them being much of a realistic T&F team with the limited resources. If you’re a HS kid PSU is a great option, access to awesome trails, Nike, PNW, Hayward, etc., etc. A distance runner's little slice of nirvana.
Seitz has been doing an incredible job building the program. His latest recruiting class is top notch, that combined with transfers, will produce an NCAA XC national team in the next 2 years in the toughest region in the US. The one knock is that Portland is at sea level when most of the conference is at altitude.
Can’t really see them being much of a realistic T&F team with the limited resources. If you’re a HS kid PSU is a great option, access to awesome trails, Nike, PNW, Hayward, etc., etc. A distance runner's little slice of nirvana.
I would say the coaching staff and program seemed to have some momentum in the fall....and now it looks rough.
I can't say Portland State should ever be a good option for any Oregon kid or recruit.....Portland State is a joke of a University, has no facilities, and Portland is a dirty and dangerous place for college kids to have to deal with. I wouldn't send my kid there.
My greatest regret in life was settling on PSU. Mediocrity is the theme for the whole institution. It is a commuter campus with no soul. Students roll in from Gresham and Tigard to take classes then drive back to Mom and Dad’s place for the evening. Most of the Park Blocks is a homeless camp. Depressing AF.
i got recruited to portland state, by jon marcus actually, and got offered near full and was told my academics would cover the rest. Day after the offer I looked up school reviews and multiple reviews considered it a "glorified community college." Emailed Jon the next day and told him thanks, but no thanks.
Portland is a terrible place!!! (for sheltered, rich, private schools kids who eill never have to work a day in their life for anything bc of mommy & daddy's money...)
For any HS student who's actually went outside, worked a part time job, etc in their lives, Portland is fine.
It’s too bad to see the deterioration of the track program at PSU. About 10 yrs ago PSU was a track powerhouse in the Big Sky conference. Their women would give NAU a run for their money year after year in track. They would produce amazing women sprinters and one of their runners still holds the all time Big Sky 200 meter record. They should have stuck with sprinting. They added depth and talent to the Big Sky. NAU is too dominant now winning by more than 100 pts on average.
It’s too bad to see the deterioration of the track program at PSU. About 10 yrs ago PSU was a track powerhouse in the Big Sky conference. Their women would give NAU a run for their money year after year in track. They would produce amazing women sprinters and one of their runners still holds the all time Big Sky 200 meter record. They should have stuck with sprinting. They added depth and talent to the Big Sky. NAU is too dominant now winning by more than 100 pts on average.
10 years ago NAU wasn't as good as they are now. Portland is never gonna compete well at conference because of altitude it's just how it is, they should switch to the wac or wcc.
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