I’m also good friends with her and we still keep in touch. I know it was a struggle for her to get the times she needed. I know she wasn’t necessarily sought out by the coach, she initiated it more on her own. Still, it’s a known fact in our school that track is the reason why she got in over so many in our school that didn’t.
It could be possible that she was viewed more as a walk on that could get an admissions boost from being able to still contribute the team in certain ways.
The vast majority of athletes are not “sought out by the coach.” You said you are friends with her… maybe you could ask her more specifically what her situation was/is.
I agree there is a strong possibility it is club. Some schools have very strong club teams that are a true commitment. Kids will travel and compete, even nationally.
I know of a high school junior who was recruited straight off the track by the coach at UT Austin. The coach was there watching someone else, but apparently this runner caught his eye as having enormous potential. I don’t think her 800 time was any faster than 2:26 in high school. She lasted two seasons with the Longhorns, D1 sports are brutal.
That is exactly why I will never run D1. Not that I could, but even if I could I wouldn’t. I like D3 because I want to go to practice everyday and compete with advanced athletes without sacrificing my education.
Club isn’t out of the question, I just prefer having practice every day, a strong commitment, and a close team. At D1 schools Club would probably fulfill that, but most the schools I like are D3 anyway, and I don’t expect D3 club to be competitive, especially in track. Is club more people who maybe did other sports and are trying out track because they feel like it? Or don’t want the commitment?
I really don’t know much about club track however I would have the same concerns that you do. I ran D3 track in college and I think my son probably will as well, so I’m a huge fan!
You may want to check with individual schools. Some D3 schools do not allow “walk-ons”, even though folks say all D3’s are essentially walk-ons. That is not true.
D3’s are also fiercely competitive and in many case better than some D1’s.
My son is a recruited Track and XC runner to a top 10 (D3) school. The Head Coach clearly said, we do not take walk-ons.
His 1600m time is 4:18
800m is 1:55
5k is 15:33
He still has senior track to go where he hopes to improve.
The girls times were pretty competitive too.
He had to also have SAT scores in the 1500’s and also a lot of AP classes with scores of 4 or 5 in them. EC’s did not matter much while he was being recruited, even though he has stellar EC’s…they did not look at it.