This has got to be fake. Think of all the things that need to happen for it to be real.
-OP is either not saying everything or the coach is being super lazy.
-No mention of training with the guys unattached. Did the OP not even bother inquiring or is the school so cucked that this isn't allowed (instant grounds for transferring if true IMO)?
And most importantly: a runner actually listening to the school medical staff when they recommend not running. I have yet to meet a single athlete who would have taken that advice.
I had a similar experience. I am a bit older I am 40 now. However, when I was in college, I started out at a smaller school but did not like the way the coach was training us. He would use a poured cement painted track for intervals and my body could not hold up I had the worst shin splints ever. I wound up transferring. I eventually got the boot from my next college as I showed up injured and lasted a semester. I went back home to a local NCAA Division 1 College. I did not make the team but trained on my own. I signed up for the team’s relay meet and ran a 15:32 for the 5,000m and a 4:05 1500m. I kept training alone and eventually got invited to join the team for workouts and they would take me to races and house me with the team and I was treated like a member of the team. Long story short I finished college with the following Best Times: Indoor: 800m: 1:52 1,000m: 2:24 Mile: 4:06 3,000m: 8:16 5,000m: 14:17 Outdoor: 800m: 1:52 1,500m: 3:45 Mile: 4:04 5,000m: 14:17 10,000m: 29:05 XC: 5K: 14:51 8K: 24:27 10K: 30:56 You can either keep training and maybe your perseverance we gain the attention of the coach who will invite you out. Or you can transfer. I’d keep training a lot of successful runners are told no and prove themselves. In the long run the most important thing though is getting your education completed.
I had a similar situation many years ago at a big university. I tried to walk on but because of heavy class load I couldn't practice every day with the team, so they told me to go away. I did, and trained myself, and had the immense satisfaction of periodically beating members of their travelling team in open meets. No regrets.
Welp looks like it's your first lesson as an adult, that people talk real sweet but it doesn't mean anything. Here's one for after graduation: your boss isn't your dad, and your coworkers aren't your family.
I had a similar situation many years ago at a big university. I tried to walk on but because of heavy class load I couldn't practice every day with the team, so they told me to go away. I did, and trained myself, and had the immense satisfaction of periodically beating members of their travelling team in open meets. No regrets.
You shoulda moved on, this is intensely sad to read
You aren't quite understanding the chronology. OK I see where you are confused..
Terrence Mahon went to HS in California. He went to Oregon his freshmen year 1988. His best time (3200) was from his junior year in hs 1987.
He stayed in Oregon the summer of 1989 between his freshman year and trained with the Oregon guys: Brad Hudson, Colin Daltan, Pete Fonsceca, and a few others, Pat Haller, etc, when they visited. The fall of his sophomore year Terrence made All-America in cross country. In December he ran a 10k in 28:57, which was #7 on the all-time US JR list.