If I run 15:30 5k in woodward park, fresno my senior year, what can I reasonably expect my 8k time in college to be?

25:00-25:30 as a frosh on a course of similar difficulty.

24:xx or faster

yoooo wrote:

If I run 15:30 5k in woodward park, fresno my senior year, what can I reasonably expect my 8k time in college to be?

You'll redshirt and have one promising first race of 25:50, then you'll slow down as the season progresses to 26:30. Then you'll have a subpar redshirt track season where you'll be off of your best times by 5-10 seconds. Then one more season of cross country where you'll run 26:30 in your first race. Then you'll quit and either transfer or just become a NARP like every other promising California runner

CIF-SS Veteran wrote:

yoooo wrote:

If I run 15:30 5k in woodward park, fresno my senior year, what can I reasonably expect my 8k time in college to be?

You'll redshirt and have one promising first race of 25:50, then you'll slow down as the season progresses to 26:30. Then you'll have a subpar redshirt track season where you'll be off of your best times by 5-10 seconds. Then one more season of cross country where you'll run 26:30 in your first race. Then you'll quit and either transfer or just become a NARP like every other promising California runner

Don't project so much buddy.

To answer the question, honestly you will probably break 25:00 on a flat, fast course if you get into a decent program that is interested in developing you. I know of Woodward and its a fair course. Not hard, but not flat either.

For reference, I coach in Division 1 and last year I had four freshman well under 25:00. One of them was about as quick as you. The year prior, I had two walk-ons who impressed me academically who never broke 10:00 for 3200m. They both have broken 25:00 (like, RIGHT under it). Really, if you get to a pancake flat course it is not that difficult to do if you are well prepared. Breaking 25:00 is not difficult at all on the right course. You make big jumps in a well thought out college program.

Best advice to you? Don't focus on 8k times so much. XC is about placement in college. It is hard for a California kid to understand that because all of your race are 3 miles or 5ks that are extremely fast. Lots of flat races too. It will be different in college. Coaches recruit you off of your XC FINISHES at big meets and not necessarily specific times.