I’m on the portal looking for a D1 school (not necessarily P5) where I can really get good coaching and teammates to break 1.50 in the 800m next year. Any suggestions? PS: Please don’t include Texas and Florida schools (too hot there haha)
Umm are you just tryna break 1:50 or possibly become a NCAA Champion and if so Texas is probably the best state in terms of producing elite collegiate 800m runners within their collegiate institutions rn.
Illinois State is one of the better mid-major middle distance programs in the country. Jeff Bovee is an excellent developmental coach. In 2022 they’ve had 2 men run 1:49 and a 2:05 female…
What are your grades, major, academic interests? If you’re going to transfer and don’t prioritize academics you are most likely going to be dissatisfied.
O’Sullivan at Villanova, Eric J at VT, Elliot at Clemson and LaBadie who I believe still coaches at Akron are all great
LaBadie is a good coach but I don’t think he’s been at Akron the past few track seasons. Akron discontinued their men’s XC program, unfortunately. They still have women’s XC. I think once men’s XC was dc’d, LaBadie left. It sort of killed the distance program. Miraculously, Akron won the MAC in track this season on the strength of sprints and field events. The men’s program isn’t as good as it used to be.
As for LaBadie, I am not sure if he is coaching Clayton Murphy currently but I believe that he is. I don’t know if he is mostly retired or coaching anyone else.
Umm are you just tryna break 1:50 or possibly become a NCAA Champion and if so Texas is probably the best state in terms of producing elite collegiate 800m runners within their collegiate institutions rn.
But Iowa State has a stable of sub 1:50 guys
100%
Texas had 4 of the top 16 times for indoor
Not just The University of Texas but Texas A&M & Texas Tech also led the NCAA 800. I think the weather thing is something you can get over its the performance that matters