What's a good college a 26:30 8k could/should run at?

Look lesser D1...like Sun Belt or Conference USA. You could be a 3-4 guy at a Sun Belt school.

Pick a university which does not require applicants to submit written essays.

How old are you and what is your eligibility situation like?

Many schools would be willing to bring in a guy who ran 26:30 as a senior in high school and get him to run 25:mid in his freshman year.

I'm 20 years old and am a sophomore in college....

If you're consistently a 26:30 runner (not a one short course hit wonder) then that's nothing to sneeze at. Coaches from all but say the top 10 schools would probably take you as a walk-on. I knew guys at Colorado a few years ago when they won nationals that ran 2-3 meets as a Buff (obviously not nationals or regionals) and were 27:30 altitude guys and 4:00 1500 types.

You could probably get scholarship at most schools that finish around 10th or worse at their regional meet.

You would be a scorer at a school like, say, Appalachian State.

And you took Grammar and Composition 101?Maybe the brojos could put your skills to use as a copy editor?

Scottieboy1023 wrote:

I'm 20 years old and am a sophomore in college....

flapjack willy wrote:

And you took Grammar and Composition 101?

Maybe the brojos could put your skills to use as a copy editor?

Scottieboy1023 wrote:

I'm 20 years old and am a sophomore in college....

What the hell are you talking about?

What? There's no way this guy is going to get a scholarship. That's equivalent 16 min 5k, and the guy is already a sophomore. There are thousands of kids who run faster than that in HIGH SCHOOL and don't get money.

my input is wrote:

You could probably get scholarship at most schools that finish around 10th or worse at their regional meet.

my input is wrote:

If you're consistently a 26:30 runner (not a one short course hit wonder) then that's nothing to sneeze at. Coaches from all but say the top 10 schools would probably take you as a walk-on. I knew guys at Colorado a few years ago when they won nationals that ran 2-3 meets as a Buff (obviously not nationals or regionals) and were 27:30 altitude guys and 4:00 1500 types.

You could probably get scholarship at most schools that finish around 10th or worse at their regional meet.

You would be a scorer at a school like, say, Appalachian State.

Schools that finish 10th or worse at their regional meet almost certainly AREN'T GIVING OUT SCHOLARSHIPS! People have such misconceptions about D-I schools...they aren't all Oregon. Outside the top 35-40 teams (the ones that consistently make nationals) most D-I schools either have very few, limited scholarships for distance running or none at all. They certainly don't have any just sitting around.

Not to discourage the OP, 26:30 is nothing to sneeze at and yes most schools would be happy to have you walk-on. But you won't be getting any money anywhere.

No offense taken. I know where those harsh #'s put me in the running world.

I wasn't looking for a scholarship, just somewhere where I can be part of the team and possibly compete at the national level by my senior year.

Look into some of the America East schools.

Okay here is my very unscientific study. I pulled the 10th place team from random regional meets and found the times of the 5-7 man. I then used the Mcmillan calculator (http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/Running%20University/Article%201/mcmillanrunningcalculator.htm) to determine equivalent performance. Sure, it's far from exact, but it gives a rough idea.

Southeast Regional:

10th place team – Clemson – 5th runner 80th in 32:57 (26:11 8k), 6th runner 123rd in 33:45 (26:45 8k), 7th runner 157th in 34:47 (27:36 8k)

Great Lakes Regional:

10th place team – Kent State – 5th runner 88th in 33:32 (26:36 8k), 6th runner 103 in 33:51 (26:51 8k)

South Central Regional

10th place team – Baylor – 4th runner 33:23 (26:30), 5th runner 65th in 33:25 (26:31 8k), 6th runner 33:41 (26:44), 7th runner 33:45 (26:47)

Midwest Regional

10th place team – Nebraska – 5th runner 80th in 33:19 (26:26), 6th runner 94th in 33:41 (26:44)

Northeast Regional

10th place team – Marist – 3rd runner 58th in 33:26, 4th runner 34:06, 5th runner 34:25

Mid Atlantic Regional:

10th place team - Navy

24 33:08 5:21

40 33:43 5:26

48 34:05 5:30

92 35:13 5:41

94 35:17 5:41

104 35:35 5:44

My findings: this dude could run 5-7 man on any of these teams or the teams finishing worse. He would certainly receive scholarship (around 1k-2k) at many of these schools. He would also get free gear and travel. Not a bad gig.

If you are considering iu, look a little further south. Southern Indiana has great tradition and a reputation for developing talent. Transfers Paul Jellema and Bryan Phillips both became all Americans and Tristan Mannix (2750 prior) ran 2510, 829, 1442, 3052 2 years after transferring.

I actually started my collegiate career there. Just didn't like Evansville.

You'd be competitive at any D3 school. There are lots and lots of good D3 colleges. NESCAC schools, Grinnell, Carleton, CMC, Pomona, Colorado.

I would never consider adding a 26:30 college soph to my roster, particularly as a transfer.

We did not go to DI Nats, but I would rather bring in a 9:20's HS walk-on than 'develop' a 20 yr old who runs 8k at a pace that represents a fair tempo run.

Whoever mentioned the lack of $$ for a 26:30 guy was spot on. No program adding such athletes will have any money to spread around. That's just the way it goes.

Some real adivce wrote:

I would never consider adding a 26:30 college soph to my roster, particularly as a transfer.

but some coaches would let him run with the team and see how he does. that doesn't cost coach anything.

i know this b/c I ran for a top 10-15 D1 program where this was the case. anyone who wanted to work was welcome for at least a decent trial period.

varies by school. you need to contact the coaches (probably the assistant coaches actually).

my advice to the OP: worry about your education first. don't sacrifice a better education for two years of running with a certain uniform on. people are losing their jobs left and right these days...you can do at least a little to insulate yourself from crap like this by going to the best school possible, majoring in something useful, and working hard.

I go to a D3 school and you wouldn't be top 7 on my team... I use to go to a D1 school and the coach would laugh at you... sorry that is the way it is.

You wouldn't crack our top 10.

fake edit: we are D3