Do D3 National Champs become pro runners/get sponsored?

Generally speaking, the answer is NO. Having said that, you've got Symmonds proving there are exceptions to the rule, and people like Andrew Rock a few years back and Greg Nixon show that DIII can produce "professional" runners.

However, people like Rock, Symmonds, Leer, and Nixon weren't typical DIII Champs. Rock was running internationally elite times WHILE he was running DIII. Nixon moved up to the 400 after he competed in DIII, and proved he was a top notch 400 guy (for a little bit, anyway) so he got a deal (I don't know how big his deal was, but he was signed to somebody for a little while). And Symmonds is the same, he was a dominant DIII Champs runner, but he had to show AFTER college that he could run 1:44s. Leer is similar to Symmonds in that sense (he's more of a poor man's Symmonds from a DIII post-college perspective). I also know of at least one serious shotputter (Justin Rodhe) who has continued competing after graduation from a DIII school around 2008/2009, and he competed at the Olympics last year for Canada I believe (I have no clue what his sponsorship situation is like, though).

It isn't about being a "champ" in DIII, it's about running the times. Anyone who runs 10.0/10.1-20.2/20.3-high 44s/low 45s-high 1:44s/low 1:45s-sub 3:40/3:39s, etc. is going to have a shot at some possible support (gear maybe, which doesn't really do anything for putting food on the table) regardless of if they ran DI, DII, NAIA, DIII, whatever. But to get anything serious you have to be running those times consistently and be showing the promise of future progress and showing it on the national level (Outdoor US Champs).

But if you are a guy who won the 1500 in a 3:49 PR or something, and that is your primary race, chances are not looking good for you unless you plan on dropping a ton of time real quick on your PR.

There are already many threads about this. Some do, most don't. Some improve a ton and become Nick Symmonds. Most are 14:0X 5k types.

Most will at least pursue it, join a track club, get some free equipment... not many will actually make it as a pro though. I mean, how many guys are actually getting paid to run full-time? Maybe 5-7 in each event?

Ricky Flynn is sponsored by powerbar.

Christy Cazolla is sponsored by someone or another.

Patrick Rizzo is sponsored by brooks.

Kyle Brady drops an ok time every now and then but has no sponsor.

Marci Gage (17th at d3 xc) is sponsored by Oiselle.

It looks like Oiselle pours more money into pro athletes than Nike https://www.oiselle.com/blog/haute-vol%C3%A9e-team . Some other comapnies need to step up and sponsor 20-50 men to become full time elites, not just a handful.

As a male, I hope Oiselle picks me up to sponsor. I think the purple shorts and top that Kate Grace wears would look fabulous on me.

I'm not sure if he's considered a "professional", but Sean Burnstein, the '13 DIII champ in the 4x1, 200m, and runner-up in the 100m just won the 100m at the MAccabia Games, which is like the jewish Olympics. I believe today sometime he had the 200m final, which is has the fastest seed in as well.

So basically, a DIII nat'l champ = fastest jew in the world

I don't think Ryan Bak ever broke 14 in college, and he had a pretty solid pro career. Though he was coming out of college 10 years ago, and things have changed a lot.

I think you could be local elite, and get the perks that come with it. A guy who works at my store wasn't a D3 champ, but a decent D1 guy (29:20?) and is sponsored. He has to work another job, but he gets gear and travel. I'd say anyone in the top-5 (in XC) could do that - get some free gear and coaching at the local level.

Rizzo is sponsored by Mizuno.

There are usually a couple of D3 guys and gals at USATF Nationals, mostly at the end of their senior year. Club Nats in cross has a good number of former D3ers, a bunch at USA XCs too. I used to see names I recognized running for small teams like Indiana Invaders, Zap, local running stores, etc. I've out of school too long and don't recognize anyone anymore, but I assume that's still true.

Ryan Bak ran for a really good group right out of college and had a good year or two. My recollection is that the group fell apart and he got hurt. But lots of dominant D3 runners, even ones who put up genuinely (not just for D3) good times disappear after a year or two...Liz Woodworth owned D3 for a year or two...Missy Buttry and Josh Moen...Jimmy O'Brien, etc. I suspect part of the problem is that it's very hard to make it if you're a track runner who's a level or two below the big time. Ricky Flynn may have a longer career, since he's running the marathon and there are more opportunities to work for improvement at his ability level. There really isn't a lot of sub-elite or local track in the US for people not in school.

Sex change for guys would work. If not, maybe a local BBQ shack.

kslicht wrote:

Rizzo is sponsored by Mizuno.

Also, was not a DIII champ (tons of All-America honors though).

I've been impressed with his improvement over his career. Hope it continues for a bit longer.

Mike Morgan (Nebraska Wesleyan) has had a long and successful career w/ Brooks/Hanson's. I think he has made a couple of USA World Championship teams in the marathon.