British Columbia men win NAIA Nationals with ONLY DISTANCE RUNNERS

Big reason that Canadian schools would have trouble in the NCAA is that they currently don't offer athletic scholarships over the cost of tuition - can't include residence costs, books, etc. In practice, that means scholarships are capped between 5k-10k depending on the school. Many schools don't offer distance running scholarships at all.

Bees and Cleeves:

I stated that the USports has TRULY outstanding athletes, the issue is DEPTH, MONEY and INSTITUTIONAL-CAPACITY.

I do not think any of our USports schools could beat an Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, USC, etc. If I am wrong, I am not so proud as to admit that I am wrong.

On an individual man/woman basis - ABSOLUTELY !!!! As a team, I am not convinced. It will take time and a significant shift in the way track and field is viewed in Canada.

Example: A few years ago my province wanted to do away with High School Provincial track and field. Track in the 'States is by far the most popular sport (by registered number of high school athletes for boys AND girls Source: Runner's World - U.S. Edition). Can you imagine Texas, California, or Florida suggesting the same?

What does a USport 4X100m look like, or 4x400m, what about javelin, discus, hammer?

We as a nation do not really recruit track and field athletes. This weekend, a 21 year old, Pierce Lepage scored 78XX, almost 7900 in the Gotzis decathlon. He does not go to university. Do you really think a 6'7" (2m) guy who can run a 10.49 sec. 100m would not be picked up by a school in the 'States?

As a coach who conducts track and field clinics I have seen incredibly "naturally" talented athletes (they do not come from track families, track backgrounds, have track coaches, or even a track) in all the event-groups who do not even consider track as an option or even as a way to go to school. When I asked, "Have you been recruited by the local university or anyone.". They almost always answer, "No".

NCAA schools' rosters are seasoned with World Youth and World Junior athletes. There is a big difference.

About a month ago, I was at a hockey tournament (as a fan - not a hockey guy), There were scouts from all over, strength and conditioning coaches, position coaches, and head coaches all evaluating the athletes.

My question is to you and my fellow coaches and fans of track and field in the 'North is , "Why can't we do the same?".

If we as the track community could get our act together like the hockey community, joining the NCAA would NOT be an issue.

A fair statement. But I spy with clevey eye some holes in you argument. In fact i find it a bit cheesy. You seem to be over looking the vast landscape that is competitive race walk and the marathon, two sports of equal stature. Name me one NCAA Division one athelte with better credentials in the marathon or racewalk than our NAIA studs.

A fair statement. But I spy with clevey eye some holes in you argument. In fact i find it a bit cheesy. You seem to be over looking the vast landscape that is competitive race walk and the marathon, two sports of equal stature. Name me one NCAA Division one athelte with better credentials in the marathon or racewalk than our NAIA studs.

While this is a fruitful argument I think its fair we are straying off the topic of this thread. No matter div 1, 2, 3 NAIA or canada track it is always an acomplishment for the coaches and athletes to win. I personally congradulate British Columbias men and will be looking out for more to come!

Congratz to ubc:

I would like to apologize. I was not trying to deny the awesome work by UBC's athletes/coaching staff or hijack the thread. I was answering a question from a fellow poster.

Chefo wrote:

AMERICA GOES HOME DEVASTATED

This

Here is the back story. In Canada, where it snows, all serious distance runners ultimately move out to British Columbia, the lone part where it does not snow during the winter, thereby permitting year round training. In my recollection, when I attended UBC all the distance runners had already been to the Olympics. So, not surprising that this one Canadian university has a very deep distance bench.

The thing is there's more to it when hypothetically putting UBC into the NCAA. It requires some very strong high school grades to be accepted into the school and any useful degree will be difficult to complete as a student athlete. So while it's fun to imagine CIS schools getting crushed in PAC 10 football, these NCAA athletes would get crushed even harder if they had to take their classes at UBC. They would flunk out after 1 semester. Not one single UCLA men's basketball player could ever get accepted into the school and if they did they managed to get in they would start to suck at basketball because they'd be studying so much to not flunk out. This is why UBC can win with distance runners, why there's no fast sprinters on the team, and why it's pointless imagining Canadian schools in the NCAA.

FirstTake wrote:

The thing is there's more to it when hypothetically putting UBC into the NCAA. It requires some very strong high school grades to be accepted into the school and any useful degree will be difficult to complete as a student athlete. So while it's fun to imagine CIS schools getting crushed in PAC 10 football, these NCAA athletes would get crushed even harder if they had to take their classes at UBC. They would flunk out after 1 semester. Not one single UCLA men's basketball player could ever get accepted into the school and if they did they managed to get in they would start to suck at basketball because they'd be studying so much to not flunk out. This is why UBC can win with distance runners, why there's no fast sprinters on the team, and why it's pointless imagining Canadian schools in the NCAA.

That is a very good point. UBC is a very well respected university and is highly competitive. While you may be exaggerating a bit, I mostly agree.

FirstTake wrote:

The thing is there's more to it when hypothetically putting UBC into the NCAA. It requires some very strong high school grades to be accepted into the school and any useful degree will be difficult to complete as a student athlete.

UBC has an acceptance rate of 52%.

UCLA has one of 18%

Dear FirstTake:

Why do you assume that the UCLA basketball players or sprinters are not intelligent or can keep up with the academic requirements of UBC or any CIS school?

I personally know a UCLA graduate who played on men's basketball. He is NOT an intellectual slug.

Is basketball player or sprinter code for something I am unaware of?

Wayland Baptist University Women also won with a normal balanced mix of sprinters, jumpers, and distance runners.

Discus.

cheesenknees wrote:

One must not forget that British Columbia is the pinacle of racewalk in collegiate athletics. The walk powerhouse has bred 3 olympians including 4th place Evan Dunfee this year at Rio. I do everyone remembers the following names-Collis cheng, Algier liang and Nathan Downey. These all americans will soon be world famous olympians.

This is possibly the most useless information to put into your brain.