small liberal arts colleges with good running programs?

Wartburg

For the women, Moravian was the dominate Mideast team in the late 90s/earlys 00s with a 3rd place at NCAAs in 2001 (before that the women were 3rd two other times as well as fifth and had a 9-year NCAA appearance streak). The team had four seniors that year, all All-Americans with one being a national champ and 5 or 6 time runner-up, and the program is rebuilding.

The men's team was strong conference-wise in the 90s and has had national qualifiers.

The coach there, Mark Will-Weber, is excellent and is author of the Quotable Runner.

Academics are big there too, with most of the team making academic teams in the conference and within the nation. Has had two NCAA post grad scholars in the past three years.

Let's get real here. If Oberlin is a top choice for this guy, he's not going to want to go to some academic toilet like Wartburg or Moravian. Why don't we stick to decent academic institutions in our recommendations; anyone can look at a list of the top D3 teams if he wants to.

Aquinas, small liberal arts school with a good running program.

elitist snob wrote:

If Oberlin is a top choice for this guy, he's not going to want to go to some academic toilet like Wartburg or Moravian.

Elitist snob ... come on. Give the MoMos a break. Sure they're not ranked as highly academically, but you can still get a good education there. I don't know why the women's team there dropped from 3rd in the country to 12th in the region in one year. I know they graduated 4 and had several transfer out just after their run in the 90s. It's a shame that they're rebuilding and not reloading. And, I'm not sure why the men's team there finished 22nd in the region this year. But I'm sure you could get a decent education there.

Ithaca College has a good reputation. They were a little off this year but generally are top 20 on the men's side.

Being from Ohio, I can tell you that Oberlin has a great academic reputation. If you care about academics and want a small liberal arts college, Oberlin is tough to beat.

I haven't heard much about their running until now. I know the Stanford guy is there as the athletic director (Lanana), and they have a new cross country coach who has some experience as an elite athlete. Its to believe that Lanana would hire somebody who isn't any good as a coach. I would wager that Oberlin will have a pretty damn good team in another couple of years.

Good academics + team on the rise = easy choice.

Just don't drop the soap in the shower at Oberlin..

I was strongly considering both Oberlin and Carleton when I was looking at colleges. I ended up going to neither, but I highly recommend giving both a good look (ESPECIALLY Carleton) if you want a liberal arts college.

Other possibilities:

Depauw U In Greencastle, IN

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, also in IN, if you're an engineer

Rhodes College, Memphis

Washington University (not a small LAC, but great school anyway)

U of Chicago (ibid.)

Centre College, Danville, Ky.

U. of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.

Kenyon College, Gambier, OH

Another note--I was completely focused on small liberal-arts colleges coming out of HS, and doing so blinded me to the fact that bigger schools could have offered me a lot of the things I wanted in a college. Think about what you want and be open-minded about where to find it.

(I did go to a small college, one of those on this list, and had a great experience there.)

moravian does have a great coach, however their womens program isnt what it used to be, and their mens program has nothing at all

greenliner wrote:

I'm biased- had twins at Carleton and Grinnell- both are great, both have good running programs and traditions. Will and Evelyn Freeman at Grinnell are great folks. Does Coach Terriquez still do the XC at Carleton, Robbieknox? Athletes are mad smart, too.

greenliner - Coach T is still coaching XC here at Carleton and will be for the next 3 years as he phases into his retirement. He is a tremendous coach.

Hillsdale college: Men finished 8th in the nation with two all-americans

Aquinas: Super strong NAIA school, 2nd in the nation in NAIA nationals

Both offer a strong liberal arts education and both have a good reputation.

Ohio State!!!

Fits your Bill my son!!!!

Go to North Central College in Naperville, IL. 35 straight conferences championships, numerous national titles, and one of the best coaches in the nation: Al Carius.

North Central has one of the best coaches in the world, and has a great team. The quality of accademics at North Central College, however, are not so hot.

Most of the colleges mentioned here are not up to the level of Oberlin. Again I'd recommend Haverford and Williams for men, and Williams (how could I have forgotten that one), Amherst, and Middlebury for women.

If you're a good runner that might help you get in to Williams or possibly Middlebury. I don't think it would help at all for Haverford or Amherst.

Butler has 3000 students and was 4th at NCAAs

I'm a freshman at Oberlin and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a good liberal arts academic institution with an up and coming running program. Any of the guys who said they were interested should definitely visit or email me if you have any questions. Our coach, Ray Appenheimer (13:20s 5k guy himself) just started this year, but everyone has improved a lot already. Plus our athletic director, Vin Lannana, is obviously very committed to the running program and has a plan in the works to build a track facility much like the one at Stanford. I know we don't have a great running history, but that will change, trust me.

If you are looking in the true midwest, I'd recommend Wartburg or Truman State. I went to TSU a few years ago when they were much stronger, but the program has slipped a little as of late. I guarantee you will not find a better education for the price. I have a few buddies who went to Wartburg, also solid acedemics with high quality running.

BP