My D runs a 5.39 mile, sub 12 two mile and a 19:22 5k. She is inetersted in Wesleyan and recently received a form letter of interest. She filled out the questionnaire and emailed the coach but has yet to hear back. It looks like these times are competitive with current Wesleyan runners but I am looking for other input. She has a 3.7 GPA and is in the top 10% of her class 9grades have slipped somehwhat in this her junior year). She has yet to take a standardized test.
I wouldn’t focus on times on their current roster. I would focus on what times it takes to be competitive in their conference meets, if she is competitive there then the coach should show some interest.
My D just went through the T&F recruiting process and really liked the coaches at Wes. The athletic facilities there are top tier for an LAC. She ultimately chose a different NESCAC school, but Wes was one of her finalists.
First, it’s not surprising that your D hasn’t heard back from them yet. It’s still early. Hundreds of prospects fill out those questionnaires each year. Junior year times are the most important, so if she does well this season, update the questionnaire responses and email the coaches.
Be aware that Wes is not going to be able to admit everyone the coaches want, or even most of them. Most prospects can’t make the academic cut at a place like Wes. The admissions office rules the process, and your D’s SAT or ACT scores will matter a lot to admissions. Her grades are probably fine if her test scores come in high enough, but there are never any guarantees. Division III recruiting can be nerve-wracking.
Her times are pretty good, but need to be a little bit faster to be a desirable recruit that the coaches will want to spend their limited recruiting capital on. They only get a few tips and slots each year, and they need sprinters, middle distance, long distance, hurdlers, jumpers, discus, pole vault etc. A 19:22 5K would put her 22nd at the NESCAC championship in that event. The coaches would love to have her as a walk-on right now, but she needs to get faster to be recruited.
Finally, don’t focus on one school alone. If she likes Wes, she probably would like several other schools that are similar.
Thanks. She takes the ACT on Feb 7 and am hoping she scores well
What would be NESCAC times as they typically run 6ks? When I look at 5 k times my D is in the upper half of the current team.
Be aware that being barely upper half of the current team isn’t really what you recruit for as a coach. You are trying to improve the team, trying to find people who can score points by finishing in the top few runners in an event. Plus, for many of those runners, that event may be their second or even third best event. An 800 specialist also will run the 1500 or the 400 at a meet, but might not do as well.
Go to TFRRS.org and you can look up every event for every team in the NCAA. You can search by conference too.
ThankYou,
Just as an added variable, I think Wes is test optional now. Not sure if that means that you still need to submit strong tests scores as a practical matter. I think time will tell.