Not sure if this has been said but look at solid mid majors, especially those who have move up from D2 to D1 with a long standing coach. Somewhere like a Southern Indiana comes to mind with Coach Hillyard. There’s more schools in that category if you look hard enough.
UNM is one of the only division one schools where an athlete can train at altitude. That seems like a major selling point for the university to make to any potential recruits.
Altitude is not necessarily a main priority for HS runners choosing a school. I don’t know how UNM ranks academically, but Albuquerque is not for everyone. I’ve been there a few times and find elevated desert to be unappealing.
I don't think there's anything wrong with a few foreigners on a roster. Its when coaches are exclusively filling out their top 7 with Kenyans and the few Americans on the roster are on the B-team, that there is a problem
Exactly. I think having 1 or 2 foreigners can be good for a team. Raises the bar and sets a goal for the athletes to strive for every day in practice. But when it’s their entire top 7 I just can't stand it.
At many schools, there would be a big gap between the two foreigners and the Americans. The bar is too high and trying to keep up in practices would be suicidal. The question is whether the teams that can’t draw fast HS runners, should give up on being competitive.
Surprised Chris Miltenberg hasn't been mentioned. Currently only has a single girl from Sweden as his one foreigner at UNC. Honestly can't recall any standout foreigners during his time at Stanford or currently UNC, but plenty of home-grown talent he has developed into premier runners.
Not sure if this has been said but look at solid mid majors, especially those who have move up from D2 to D1 with a long standing coach. Somewhere like a Southern Indiana comes to mind with Coach Hillyard. There’s more schools in that category if you look hard enough.
mid-majors are tough because they're just not that appealing - either athletically or academically. you mention Indiana - I'd prefer to go to Notre Dame or Indiana than southern Indiana. So they have to turn to importing foreign runners
Rita Gary posted on Twitter that the Furman women's team that she had raced at Gans Creek was a team of freshmen and is complaining about foreigners on other teams. The "team" She had raced was actually a senior, two true freshmen, and five sophomores (She redshirted the sophomores. She has had over a year to develop them). She is redshirting 3 of her top runners this year, these runners are seniors (some who ran unattached this season). Coach, if you ran these seniors at Gans Creek, you would have had one heck of a result at Gans Creek. So stop complaining about foreigners and having a team of freshmen! Accept your choices!
Well Saturday I watch R. Blade FSU freshman(top ten all time US high school 5k runner) get left in the dust by two unknown African runners from LSU...and I find myself losing interest in the whole NCAA cross country sport.
Well Saturday I watch R. Blade FSU freshman(top ten all time US high school 5k runner) get left in the dust by two unknown African runners from LSU...and I find myself losing interest in the whole NCAA cross country sport.
She also almost lost to an American in the NAIA who never broke 17 in high school. Try again later.