+- w wrote:
52 might get you into the finals at an average conference meet, at a good conference you'd need sub 51.
1:59 same, in a good conference probably 1:55-56
4:35/4:18 would only place (top 6) in a below average conference, to place in a decent conference you'd need 4:25/4:06.
Nobody does 5K XC in DIII. Or maybe once a year early on.
16:40 for track is mid to back of the pack. Sub 16 will get you places in invitationals and duals. 15:40 to place at conference, low 15 for better conferences.
8K 29:20 might make top 8-10 for an average to slightly above average team, and would be bottom 20 or 30% in most conferences. To be top on such a team 27s, and a good team 26s, and a very good team 25s or faster.
This individual is right. Ultimately depends on the competitiveness of the conference. I'm sure that there are some smaller, unknown conferences where if you break 4:10 in the 1500m, you are the conference champion. That said, there are some spectacular conferences/teams out there.
Take St. Olaf, for example. They had the mile champions the past couple of NCAA D3 meets. On their team alone, you wouldn't be considered one of their top 5 milers unless you broke 3:49.xx in the 1500m.