Solid D3 only 5k yesterday

Yeah, 7 guys under 14:10. National qualifying standards for distance races are going to be fast this year. North Centrals 4 guys under 14:20 also impressive for one team in the same meet.

North Central is the place, good running program for those who want to go the DIII route, but remain competitive.

It is a place. One of many nowadays.

Yeah, whitewater had a guy at 14:00 and another at 13:5x…

Indeed. A place that is better than most.

North Central is a region on a map, not a college.

*YAWN*

holy ****, what? I ran d3 in the early 2000's, I think most years nobody in the country went under 14....and despite the insanity of current times, I gotta think NCC having 4 guys under 14:20 would make them regionally competitive for D1?

so basically this one race would be far better than the 5K performance list for the entire nation and the entire year back then...!

I like seeing these kinds of races much more than a d3 runner running a record at Bryan Clay or Stanford and getting 30th.

Okay for running, but the academics are mediocre, at best. After two years, I transferred out as I wanted to go to medical school, which I ultimately did. When I was there, it was rare for any of the runners to go to graduate or professional school, many went on to coach. North Central is okay, if that is all you want to do, but it can be done with a much lower student debt burden elsewhere.

I actually agree with this.

Very true, I have noticed that D3 as well as the Ivies seem to be attracting a lot faster distance talent than they used to. Some of it is probably better training and equipment but I'm seeing a lower time delta to the powerhouse conferences in individual events. I think a lot more academically gifted runners are realizing that unless they truly want to win a team title in XC or track or feel that a specific coach is going to take them to the next level / to a pro career the benefits of a great education and connections are better for them in the long term.

98989

This is the exact decision I just made. I live to run but it is clear that I’m not going to make a living on it. I’d rather go get a top notch liberal arts education than be lost in the pack in d1. My hs coach ran for Wisconsin and won a couple national 10k titles, and although my hs times aren’t far from his, he still encouraged me to go d3. “Better to get the opportunities available as the biggest fish in the pond rather than be lost as the medium fish in the sea.”

There was an assist from a pacer for part of the race - they did their job!