Recruitment of SEC

Event Time(if solo event) Time(if across the board)

800 F- 2:10 or better F- 2:16ish

M- 1:52 M- 1:56ish

1600 F- low 4:50s F- around 5 flat

M- 4:12 M- 4:20

3200 F- sub 10:40 F- around 11 flat

M- sub 9:15 M- 9:20

Sources: I run in the SEC on partial cholarship.

*These times my not be the best possible examples, but they are what I have gathered from reading bios and talking to my teammates.

Hey thanks! So if I can run a 9:20 and a 4:20, it will be plausible for me to gain a partial scholarship?

Hey thanks! So if I can run a 9:20 and a 4:20, it will be plausible for me to gain a partial scholarship?

disagree, to get a partial in the SEC you'll need to be closer to:

800M 1:52

1600M 4:15

3200M 9:14

5000M track 15:00 or legit xc 15:30

Alright the 15:30 sounds decent. So if it was at a state meet it would be considered "legit" then?

I diasgree about the 15:30 5k. No way that nets a partial scholarship or even any amount of athletic aid.

Green grass 222 wrote:

I diasgree about the 15:30 5k. No way that nets a partial scholarship or even any amount of athletic aid.

I was going through a few teams seasonal statistics and it appears, for the most part of the SEC, that each team only has a maximum of three to four guys who can run a sub 14:50 5000m on the track. So why do they basically low ball everyone?

They do low-ball. Guys get hurt, some fade. Break one of your given PRs by 2-3 sceonds and you will get book money, or more if you come from a less competitive area. Also, if you have the time to re-take the test, upping that ACT score can help seperate you from the other 4:20/9:20 guys.

Would you say going to a less competitive area may be better? I am the only person on my high school cross country team and in the indoor track and outdoor track seasons I am on my own in training; spare a coach timing me.

It's all right here

http://www.gatorzone.com/trackfield/men/misc/financial.pdf

You are not far off time wise - get that ACT up over 30 and that will help tremendously with a roster spot. Good luck!

I have said this many times and heard it from a coach in the SEC. A full ride goes to anyone who can win a track event as a freshman. Partial money depends on where you could place as a freshman. Look at the SEC results from last year and see where you fit in. If you can not score points as a freshman in the SEC track meet you are walking on!

Thank you for the encouragement. It makes a ton more sense to me. Basically college coaches want a butt kicker who can come in and immediately score. The overall thing they look for is kids who have confidence and talent who can do big things at whatever level.

I was recruited to run at a few SEC schools. At the time I was recruited I had run 51.8 (split) 1:57(split) 4:21, 9:27 all at the same indoor state championship meet as a senior. The coaches that called me knew my high school coach, so they knew that I was a very low mileage guy who had some upside. I would have walked on to these programs, but I chose to take a scholarship to a smaller DI school.

In my opinion, if you can afford to go run SEC and you want to work really hard for the opportunity to race and contribute, go for it. If you just want the opportunity to say you ran for an SEC school, but don't want to put in the work, don't waste your time, the coaches time or the teams time.

I had a blast running for a smaller DI program that had some really good runners. I got a bunch of scholarship and was a contributor to 3 conference championship teams, while also going to 4 East Regional Championships. My coach cared for my success and would talk to me about what I wanted to do in training to help me.

Truly I feel that I am ready to work hard; due to my running only started a year ago. If I have a bunch of college credits going in from dual enrollment will that make me more marketable? Also I heard most SEC schools basically give out academic scholarships..?

They will give out academic scholarships if you have a 30+ ACT, which they will see a lot of because they get so many applicants. A 3.75 with a 26 is a dime a dozen at most large schools. Depending on your Financial aid status, you could qualify for a Pell Grant or other federal money.

Next year after January 1st, start going ahead and filling out your FAFSA information, so you can get a jump start on qualifying for federal aid. All coaches love to get people who qualify for some type of federal assistance.

Is it true that if I did very well my Freshmen year in a season or two, that they would give me money for the next year? So 30 will basically put me a foot taller than the rest, that is a good deal. Since I am out of state should I consider taking the SAT?

I wouldn't by any means expect that once you get there they will help you out. You would have to be an exceptional distance runner in the SEC to get money (Parish, Hillenbrand, Campbell, etc.). There is a reason these schools are always at the top of the national rankings and it has to do with the fact that they get more points out of sprinters and jumpers because they do more events. This is where they invest their money. Go for as much academic aid as you can because unless you are going to score more than 5-6 points (3rd/4th place) you're not gonna see anything.

Ok, that also makes sense to me. I can truly see that when I look at the depth of the SEC in terms of distance. I would very much like to go to a school where the winters do not go below 10 degrees. What would be a better selection as opposed to the SEC are?

Walk on wrote:

It's all right here

http://www.gatorzone.com/trackfield/men/misc/financial.pdf

You are not far off time wise - get that ACT up over 30 and that will help tremendously with a roster spot. Good luck!

Yes, I know a guy who got spurned by the Gators with 3:50 and 1:50. He later went on to beat all their guys at SEC Champs.

I'm not sure they give any middle distance runners full rides. They save that for sprinters. Florida is better at recruiting than developing.