I'm going to George Mason next year and I was wondering if anyone knew if they accepted walk-ons. I chose Mason based on academics and I didn't think I was fast enough to run, but I just ran a 2:04 after being stuck at 2:10 (800)for a while. I've checked their times which are pretty fast (Millrose and IC4As), but I still think I can get faster.
In my experience with Coach Gerard he is generally happy to find a place for kids that want to get better and have there heads screwed on straight. Everyone can contribute something to the team atmosphere whether by scoring at conference, working hard at practice, setting an example academically/socially, or what be it. The team has grown a lot the past few years and so there may not be all the opportunities to race that you're used to in high school, but if you do what you're supposed to get done then you'll have your chances. But the best thing to do now is email Coach Gerard and let him know who you are and what you're thinking. It's getting to be championship season and things will be getting busy so don't worry if you don't get an email back right away or anything. Good luck
I know nothing about their program now but I did walk on to George Mason's track team in the fall of '88 with high school PR's of 50.2 in the 400 and 2:02 in the 800.
Having never talked to a college coach while in high school, 2 weeks into the fall semester I asked the assistant coach (Joe Showers at the time) if I could practice with the team. He told me to get a physical and come back. So I did and then asked the head coach (John Cook back then) about practice. He also told me to get a physical. When I told him that I had one, he sent me to train with the sprinters.
A couple of years into it I eventually made the relay team, placed 7th in the 800 at IC4A's and won a watered down conference 1500 whiling picking up some scholarship money.
Mason had one of the best programs in the country at the time and I never saw them turn away anyone that wanted to run for them. There are plenty of local meets to run in including ones at their own facility, particularly indoors.
That being said, I don't see any reason why you couldn't walk on to Mason with your credentials.
rodrigo wrote:and have there heads screwed on straight
"their"
Why do can't you take the initiative and call the coach to ask?
Wow, LETSRUN has turned the running community into a toilet...
bump