I've always been curious about just how qualified top recruits to big name schools like Stanford, Columbia, etc. really are. Obviously they're great runners, but do they also meet the academic requirements?
I've always been curious about just how qualified top recruits to big name schools like Stanford, Columbia, etc. really are. Obviously they're great runners, but do they also meet the academic requirements?
Not
Ivies? Yes. (Technically, athletes as a group need to be within 1 standard deviation from the mean with respect to academic index. In reality, distance athletes are often at or above the mean. The football players typically drag down the athlete's average.)
Stanford? Yes. I know two runners from my area that are running there. 1 walked on, so he got in without assistance. The other was a recruit and I'm told (from a very reliable source) that he had a near perfect GPA and excellent sat scores.
Other 'big name' schools? Depends on the school. Seems like some running powerhouses like OK State will take just about anyone who can run fast.
ask rojo and wejo