<p>I'm mainly a 400/800 meter track runner who would like to know what it takes to run at a D1 university (especially the ivies). As a rising junior, I predict my times will be around a high 50.xx for the 400m and a high 1:55 in the 800m. I know these times aren't extraordinary in this context, but I'd just like to know what schools are looking for. My main focus in college is academics. I'm a hopeful economics major (3.97 gpa in high school, 2300 SAT). Will my track times help me get in to an ivy league college, or are they too slow to make any difference? I also know there are plenty of great universities who participate in D2/D3 athletics. Would I be able to run for these schools?</p>
<p>Thank you for anyone who took the time to read this.</p>
<p>Jimmy all depends on what level of D1 T&F school you are looking at, some will be in the sub 1:50 range and some will be near 2:00. But if you are hititng the 1:56 and lower you should find more than a few schools interested - and especially with those other very important 's you have listed</p>
<p>Also when looking at D1 schools be advised that many of them no longer field “official” D1men’s T&F teams. They will have a XC team but for T&F they will will compete in an unofficial season of 6 meets. So you want to be on the look out for that.</p>
<p>If you are looking at Ivy recruiting your track times will only help you get admitted if they are at a level that makes you recruitable, which, in the eyes of a coach, means that you have the ability to score points and help win meets. Very generally, and each school will have different recruiting needs in a given year, I think sub- 50 in the 400, and sub 1:53 in the 800 are good goals for Junior year to make you a potential Ivy recruit. Solid academics are also required but it looks like you’re pretty good there. Search ‘academic index’ for more info on that.</p>
<p>It is time to start contacting coaches directly to see who wants to recruit you. I would fill out the online recruitment forms at the websites of the schools that you are interested in and follow this up with a brief email to the coach describing your current times, GPA, test scores and competition schedule for this spring. Cast a wide net - contacting 50 schools is not unusual. Coaches that are not interested will not respond, but don’t hesitate to try to contact a coach more than once. Some coaches will send out a generic email inviting you to a summer camp or junior days. Concentrate your effort on coaches that respond with a personalized email. Whenever you have significant time drops send out another batch of emails.</p>
<p>Note, times are not everything, and many coaches will look at body type, success at high level competitions, etc. And of course there are grades. You have some impressive stats and I would suggest making a target list, filling out recruiting questionnaires and contacting coaches.</p>