Could I get onto the University of Washington xc/tf team?

EWU has had a pretty solid program. Gonzaga has a great coach in Pat Tyson (yep, that Pat Tyson-Pre's roommate) who was very successful at Mead High School. The only knock on the Zags is that it's a private school so the cost is $$ unless you can qualify for some aid money.

Seattle U falls into that same category as the Zags.

There's also Western Washington in Bellingham.

Central Washington in Ellensburg is a weaker program.

Why has no one mentioned academics?! does UW offer studies in what you want to do the rest of your life at the pay that is projected in that given field and is that a good return on investment? what other schools offer that and running? That is the most important thing.... even pro runners will have to get a real job someday. While running is more common my sister wanted to study and Dive for a school... I would agree it is nice to try to join a team you will contribute to in a couple years regardless of division... the issue with not the best D1 schools for xc/track is the coaching is hit or miss... and usually miss. maybe try to find a team that is on the bubble of making nationals every year with abunch of not top recruits... But yeah mostly talk to coaches.

animaxcg wrote:

what other schools offer that and running?

Stanford, Wisconsin, Michigan, Purdue, Texas, Iowa State, Notre Dame, UVA, UNC, Wake Forest, etc.

But I think OP likes UW academically just would be one of the slowest on their team, If he even made it.

Feel like OP got ripped relatively quickly on here. You gotta do & pursue what makes you happy. It's unclear why you're set on UW. If that's your one and only plan, then reach out now and see if you can get a response about walking on. It might help you get into the school (maybe that's not a concern) but it might be a long process from there. Maybe you run club for 1-2 years and then walk on. I disagree with what some folks said. You would surely develop as a runner by training with one of the strongest programs out there.

If you're more flexible on where you might want to go, Ivy League type schools would give you a shot. D3 NESCAC schools might be a good fit. One of the earlier posters pretty much nailed it that you could walk onto most D1 teams maybe minus some of the blue bloods in our sport. I would think about academic programs and what you want to do in the long term and go from there. You have good enough times that they could help you be at a school that will open up a lot of doors for you.

Maybe the posts told OP that he can't have his cake and eat it too.

No one really objects to OP chasing his dreams.

Ivy League? Where did you come up with that? He listed no times that would get him an admissions boost. He listed no academic credentials. He listed no family income so let's assume $300k even though he won't get in. But sure, have him waste a bit of his time researching it to realize those same things.

LaVar Ball wrote:

Hello [Name Redacted],

Coach Powell forwarded me your email and I wanted to make sure we responded. Thank you for your interest in our program. Currently, our time standards fall within the ranges below. These times will vary between individuals, but the closer you get to these times, the better shot you have at earning a spot on our team.

800m - under 1:51

1500m - under 3:50

3000m - under 8:20

5000m - under 14:30

Please keep us updated with your progress! Good luck in your upcoming year.

Take care,

Chris Kwiatkowski

University of Washington

Bollocks to this standard stupid form letter with out of reach times that 99% of HSers won't even sniff. I remember getting them from schools and LMAO. Sub 1:51? Seriously? UW should be ashamed if these are actually the marks they say[b/] they want to see from walk-ons or anyone for that matter.

Here's the real deal as a walk on: If you're admitted to the school on your own and can hit your goal times (e.g. sub 4:20 1600), you'll be able to walk on just about anywhere in the country. That's a big if though given your current times.

I do agree with the other posters re: other schools and possibly going D2 if running is your main focus. Best of luck and don't let the silly shame letter discourage you.

Those times are quite fast and I am positive that Washington would consider a walk-on with considerably slower times. But...

In looking at TFRRS, those times are roughly what it takes to make the top 7 at UW (I am not considering the 800m, which is not a distance event). While those times are more in line with decent scholarship standards, Powell would almost assuredly look at slower athletes to add. But UW did not run many guys in indoor. Those times correlate with what it took to run at Pac 12's in XC get on the track in indoor. DI racing opportunities on the men's side are cut throat.

High school athletes who want to run: go somewhere where you can make a team, be it P5, mid major, or otherwise. I have seen a lot of fairly talented guys languish and give up on the sport after two years because they were in over their head and tired of running in low level XC meets and raking sand pits instead of racing on the track.