Trying to understand better how running and recruiting works for college. Obviously sprinters don’t run xc. But distance kids do. What about middle distance?
I doubt every school's program is the same, but I know a girl who ran in college and specialized in the 400 and 800. At her school, the coach made everyone who specialized in distances 800 and up also do cross country for aerobic development. She had to run xc despite not being good at it, as she was a sprinter type that could extend upwards to 800. However, since she did a middle distance event that meant doing xc.
If you just want to do mid distance track, probably a topic you want to bring up with the coaches ahead of time to see if the program is a good fit
I was our best 800 and miler at my college my senior year. I always had to run XC despite never racing over a mile during track. It all depends on the school. I went to a FCS D1 school so we were not nearly as deep as an SEC school. By my senior year of college, I could have run at all of the schools in an SEC type conference, but I would never be allowed near an XC course because I was not that fast of an XC runner. The deeper of a program you go the less likely an 800/Miler will have to run XC or if they do it will only be for a race or 2.
Trying to understand better how running and recruiting works for college. Obviously sprinters don’t run xc. But distance kids do. What about middle distance?
The majority of 800/1500 athletes will run xc… how competitive your program expects you to be will vary… unless you are a truly a 400m runner who can fake a good 800 you should be running xc for the fitness boost and variation in training… some very good 800/1500 guys are not good at 8k or 10k xc, they will still be expected to run xc and will probably be decent. The majority of good 800m women can be very successful in xc since it’s only 6k, there are lots of 2 flat type girls who are one of the best on their xc team… probably not true with lots of sub 1.48 guys… upshot is if you are not competing at nationals in the 800m (and could also be there in the 400m) you should be running xc if you are taking the sport of track seriously.
The short answer is yes, but you aren't expected to excel at it.
Most programs send out a summer training schedule with weekly mileage and long run suggestions. Incoming freshman 800/1500 runners are expected to run at the low end of the listed ranges.
Once XC practice starts, freshman 800/1500 runners will typically run with the XC group and probably be assigned easier paces, shorter distances, and reduced interval workouts compared to the distance specialist and upper classmen.
Many programs have an early season intermural or friendly 6k-8k race about 3-4 weeks after practice starts. The main purpose of these early season events is to see who has adapted best to the longer race distance and heavier training volume. If you run times in striking distance of the varisty top 7 you will be expected to continue with xc for the rest of the season. If you are outside that top group or struggling with the training volume a good coach will spin you off to the 400/800 group until indoor starts.
Most coaches are upfront about their xc expectations. For some programs it's just over-distance training for track season. For others, it is the only season that really matters.
Too many are, yes. It really depends on the runner and the coach, though. The good colleges SHOULD separate their 4/8 guys and their 8/15 groups, with the latter coached by the distance coach and the former coached by a sprint coach. Despite what a distance coach will tell you, a true 4/8 guy shouldn't be wasting their time running XC, at best it won't make them better and at worst it will make them slower. If you're thinking of running in college, ask the coach what they have their runners do.
I went to a school that had a mid-distance XC group that did different workouts than the rest of the team, and only a few of them ever ran a race. For example, we would be doing a continuous tempo run while they did 200 meter hills. If you look at Michael Johnson's training for the 400 (link ), you'll see that his training including a large aerobic component in the fall, even though his event lasted under 45 seconds.
I have seen 400m guys forced to participate, college XC. A guy, a large guy over 185 lbs. shows up as a freshman with a f.a.t. 49.xx, feeling good about himself then thrown into XC meat grinder with everyone else. F.at. 49.xx is very good for high school but not fast enough for a guy to demand a XC waiver or demand a modified XC training program in college.
Trying to understand better how running and recruiting works for college. Obviously sprinters don’t run xc. But distance kids do. What about middle distance?
The majority of 800/1500 athletes will run xc… how competitive your program expects you to be will vary… unless you are a truly a 400m runner who can fake a good 800 you should be running xc for the fitness boost and variation in training… some very good 800/1500 guys are not good at 8k or 10k xc, they will still be expected to run xc and will probably be decent. The majority of good 800m women can be very successful in xc since it’s only 6k, there are lots of 2 flat type girls who are one of the best on their xc team… probably not true with lots of sub 1.48 guys… upshot is if you are not competing at nationals in the 800m (and could also be there in the 400m) you should be running xc if you are taking the sport of track seriously.
I understand what you are saying, and agree with it, but the levels you cite are not realistic. It is still early days, but there are not "lots of 2 flat type girls who are one of the best on their xc team", because there are only FOUR 2:00.XX girls in all of collegiate track -- all Divisions (and one 1:58 athlete, Michaela Rose).
In contrast, there are 34 males at 1:48.00 or better right now, just in Division I.
Your premise is correct, but for the comparatively large herd running 2:03-2:06.
I have seen 400m guys forced to participate, college XC. A guy, a large guy over 185 lbs. shows up as a freshman with a f.a.t. 49.xx, feeling good about himself then thrown into XC meat grinder with everyone else. F.at. 49.xx is very good for high school but not fast enough for a guy to demand a XC waiver or demand a modified XC training program in college.
Making a 400 runner do XC will do absolutely nothing for them...
I have seen 400m guys forced to participate, college XC. A guy, a large guy over 185 lbs. shows up as a freshman with a f.a.t. 49.xx, feeling good about himself then thrown into XC meat grinder with everyone else. F.at. 49.xx is very good for high school but not fast enough for a guy to demand a XC waiver or demand a modified XC training program in college.
Making a 400 runner do XC will do absolutely nothing for them...
A numbers issue you poster. Not every college XC team has 30 3000m to 10000m guys showing up for XC.
Not the 185 lbs. guy I referenced, a different gentleman, same school, about 5 or 6 school years ahead of me, gold medalist.
I know, I know. Just think how fast he would have raced if he did Feed the Cats instead.