How fast should a young lady be at 5k/10k before making the decision to turn pro.
Assumptions:
Age: mid/late teens (16-18)
Looks: Attractive all-american type
Personality: bubbly, humble
Potential: good background, good leg speed and outlook for improvement is great.
(all important for endorsement potential)
I say sub 15:30 and sub 33:00
Slower than that and a scholarship to a major division 1 school would be worth more than pay as a professional money.
Does she do Facebook and get busted at college frat parties? If so, I would definitely go the pro route.
high school aged athletes should not go straight to professional running. it just doesn't make sense to do so. even less than with basketball. the money in track is not that great so only one in 10 million will make that work and the rest will regret not having the education and the extra time to develop their talent later.
i don't think "going pro" before using college eligibility is a strong move. we all know a distance runners best years should be late 20's and beyond. i doubt many US runners would get a jump on progression by leaving the college environment as our club system currently doesn't support post grad runners well., i doubt the support is there for college age runners. the coach athlete relationship would need to be strong. razcko/webb is working, salazar/chock doesn't have results.
the college system isn't great but most kids aren't ready to go early. similar to young hoopsters, i don't think it is a good move.
i feel the situation for sprinters and jumpers is different.
i believe sponsors aren't making wise decisions for the sport by tempting athletes, rather they want the splash they get on message boards. and whoever started this trend isn't an original thinker.
sounds sexist but is very important for females: Has the girl completed puberty?
I've seen many small/skinny freshman phenoms get progressively slower throughout high school simply because they are developing.
Chances are she will get a college education, like Webb and Felix.
I think it could be a good choice becasue yo may be able to tailor her training and racing to suit her and not her ability to score points.
European XC in the winter, road races, track in the spring, Europe in the summer- all are options and she won't have to race week after week.
Agreed. If she could land a 4 yr $50k per year sponsorship that would be equivalent to a DI scholarship. She would still go to college and train but she could pick her races (US Championships on the Road, Track and XC) and not over race - a very important factor in the development of a distance runner. One the college athletic setting totally mises.
Right and I have heard that the shoe companies will pay for the college education plus the contract.
look into becoming a porn star and change your name to Coachie Coochie
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