Foot locker midwest

Yes.

If you continue to improve at a reasonable rate, you're going to get all the attention you want whether you go to FLMW or not.

Go to FLMW to qualify for Nationals where you will have an experience you will never forget. An interesting life involves incredible experiences. Use your talent to create great opportunities and experiences.

Go to the Foot Locker Midwest race eveb if you think you may not be fast enough to qualify this year so you have the experience of running the course and are more at ease the next year. Go to the panel discussion at the Marriott while there. My child went the first year and did not qualify. A 30+ PR would have been required to qualify. We knew that going in but used the first trip to gain experience and confidence. The next year my child qualified. It was a great experience for the entire family in San Diego.

Get to know other fast runners. Show good sportsmanship. Shake hands with others and congratulate them. Make new friends on other teams. You will have more fun at competitions and enjoy making new friends. The older runners gave good recommendations for my child once they were recruited. They even texted their future coach when my child won a race over a much higher ranked athlete. Cheer on your own teammates as they finish a race after you. Cheer on the JV runners even the one who may come in last. One college coach commented on being pleased to see my child cheering on teammates (even the slowest JV runners). Be a leader on your team and encourage your teammates.

You may want to run your NXN regional too. It can be a fun trip for your whole team or go without the whole team if necessary.

Will there be be big ten college coaches there? Would it be smarter to win the frosh/soph race or to get mid pack in the big race ?

No freshman ran 15:50s last year.

24 freshmen ran under 16 in the 5K during the 2014 XC season according to Milesplit database. Under 16 at Foot Locker Midwest would put someone in the top 35 of the seeded race last year. The weather conditions are far from ideal at Foot Locker Midwest most years. Last year there was snow on the course that melted and turned the course muddy in later races. So times may have been slower than other years. I don't know how much difference there would be in winning the freshman/sophomore race versus finishing top 35 in the seeded race. If you continue to be in the top 25 or so of your class then Big10 coaches should notice you. Running Foot Locker puts you in direct competition of others they are recruiting this year. Even if they do not watch you they will have the results to look back on. They will most likely be more interested in juniors and seniors if they go to Foot Locker. I would not worry whether they see you are not. Just work on staying healthy and improving. Reach out to coaches after the track season via e-mail. Also consider running New Balance Nationals Indoor and Outdoor. Consider getting a 5000 meter tack time during the indoor or outdoor season.