If i am interested in potentially running Track and XC in college what would my times need to be like? Currently I am a junior in high school and have run...
a 4:21 1500m
a 16:41 5k road race
(both at age 15)
how much do i need to improve to be a potential team member for somewhere like... Bowdoin for example?
I would email the coach at any school you're into. Generally, DIII schools will let you walk on to the team and work out, regardless of your times.
You might not make the traveling squad in your first year, but with enough hard work, who knows?
Those times are pretty decent for a 15 year old- if you improve from there, I'm sure the coach at Bowdoin would love to have you.
. . .
Hey, I replied before some sarcastic did!
Wow those are some pretty good times, especially for a 15-year-old. Those times, especially your mile, would be good for a D3 school right now, but I'm sure you'll improve more by time you go to college--I think you'll be fine.
Whoops, sorry, I see the 4:21 was for the 1500m. Anyway, like I said, those times are great for a 15-year-old, and I think you have a lot of potential. My guess is that if you get your 1500 down to about 4:05 and your 5K down to sub-16, you'll be pretty competitive on the D3 college level. Good luck!
You'll be able to run at almost any D3 school. D3 coaches will generally let anybody on their team who is willing to work and improve. The beauty of D3 running is that you can do it for the joy of it rather than doing it to please somebody else.