Track in college?

<p>I was wondering if I go a small private college, DIII school, and possibly continue running track...I ran an 11.5 in my sophomore year in high school in the 100m...Nothing spectacular in terms of awards...I have good grades too.</p>

<p>i think i'm missing the question</p>

<p>Can you run long distance? Like a 3.1 mile race? I'm a long distance runner, and I wanna practice for that this summer so I can join the cross-country team cuz I did track..but I was kinda bored. In cross-country, there is more variety and you can watch the scenery and stuff. So yeah..if you have any tips for long-distance runners, that'd be great. This guy from a county close to us got like 15 mins in the 3.1 mile race. =o And if you're asking whether they have track at a private college..I'm thinking they most likely do.</p>

<p>yeah, i was just wondering if i could make a DIII team possibly. No sorry, i sprint, 100, 200, and relays...</p>

<p>My advice to you would be to look at the DIII schools track info on line and see what times their runners post inthe events you like. You will know if you are competitive based on that. There are probably NCAA meets with the top teams in D3 but there are also a range of D3 schools so don't get scared if the national championship times are too fast for you.</p>

<p>Once you have found your level, look at the schools you'd like even if track was not a possibility. Contact the coaches and introduce yourself. See if they are interested in a runner like you.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Thanks, i checked DIII times and im fairly competitive for them, plus i expect to improve my time even further...i've matured alot since sophomore year and track starts in about a month...im excited, i guess my decision depends on this year. I'm primarily focused on academics, but i would really like to remain somewhat athletic.</p>

<p>Two questions: </p>

<ol>
<li> What sort of school do you want--any places/regions appeal to you so far?</li>
<li> Are your times in the ball park of nationall-ranked team members times?</li>
</ol>

<p>My D is also an athlete & is heading to a D3 school.</p>

<p>11.5 will let you run at almost any DIII school (less Wheaton). I assume that's handtimed, though; you'll need to run at a big conference meet or state meet for an FAT time (Fully Automated Timing). I doubt the coaches will allow you on with an 11.5 handtime, as it could be up to almost three-tenths of a second off.</p>

<p>I'm going DI for track and I didn't run 11.5 my sophomore year (11.91 FAT / 11.8 handtimed). My junior year, however, I dropped that to 11.36 FAT / 11.1 handtimed and I guess once the coaches saw my progression that's when I started getting mail and phone calls. It's all about what the team needs that year. Fortunately for me, the schools I was looking at were in desperate need of sprinters and jumpers (I'm also a 20'4" long jumper, my primary event) so I was able to find a school that suited me.</p>

<p>You could very well run at a DI school if you're a valuable member of a relay team. Last year my 4x400 team ran 3:24.01, winning states and placing third in New Englands. I was the weak leg, but just being on the team got me a ****load of recognition.</p>

<p>What year are you now? If you're a junior and starting to look at schools, I'd say you're in pretty good shape as far as track goes. As long as you're not looking at huge powerhouses (Clemson, Stanford, Villanova, etc) I think you could be a very valuable part of any college track team.</p>

<p>Well then the important thing is finding the school that fits you best in both track and non-track areas.</p>

<p>Are your academic stats good (GPA & SATs?) Do you want a bigger or smaller school (<3000 or >3000 kids)? A certain part of the country? What field of study interests you? etc....</p>

<p>Well my GPA is 3.85 uw, 4.1 something weighted, im a junior at the moment. My PSAT was a 1400, ACT is projected to be in the 30s...hardest classes, 11 APs by graduation. My academics are fairly solid. I'm looking toward southern schools...some small, some larger. Tulane is a top choice, but i doubt i could compete with track there. My parents and grandparents went to bucknell, im hoping that if i go there i could run track. U of South as well. No powerhouses, i know im not DI material. Im a guy by the way. I think one of them was FAT, but the rest were handtimed, although they were all the same, so they are probably somewhat accurate if you add on a tenth or so. I haven't gotten any recognition yet, which is a bit disappointing, but I'm a junior, season starts in about a month.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Tulane is a top choice, but i doubt i could compete with track there.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Probably because they don't have a men's track team :)</p>

<p>I applied to Tulane also because one of my good friends runs XC for them and one of the coaches at a local college that I spoke to said he'd put in a good word for me through the athletic department. Apparently Tulane only has a cross-country team and they're thinking about reinstating an outdoor track team.</p>

<p>EDIT: Your academics are much better than mine are also, that'll be a huge boost in the admissions process.</p>

<p>Ecliptica, what school are you going to for track?</p>

<p>Wow good reason. Hopefully they'll reinstate. I suppose my academics will help...I mean, ill go to college, obviously...but im just worried because i go to a big school, easy to get lost in the mix, etc., and i know i have competitive times, i just dont know if i have the athletic credentials that i need to be able to compete at the college level. </p>

<p>FYI i dont run cross country. boo. How can a southern school NOT have an outdoor track team? crazy people.</p>

<p>So southern D3 = Emory, Trinity, U of South</p>

<p>NEng D3s = Bates, Williams, Middlebury]</p>

<p>West Coast = Claremont College</p>

<p>All of these are strong academically and all are in top 85 D-3 track teams as of last spring.</p>

<p>If team ranking is not important to you there are many more to check out. Your could probably do well at any top D3 school with your stats & track would be icing on the cake.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Ecliptica, what school are you going to for track?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Davidson, in North Carolina. </p>

<p>It was between Davidson, Georgetown, and Wake Forest. At Wake Forest, which was originally my top choice, I would have been their third or fourth best sprinter, and the coach told me straight up that I wouldn't be getting a lot of money from them unless I drop my times to sub 10.8 in the 100 or sub 22.5 in the 200.</p>

<p>Georgetown I've been to a few times and stayed on an overnight with one of my best friends who's currently on their football team (he was a former state champion in the 55m dash). Georgetown is great, but, again, not a lot of money.</p>

<p>Davidson was the perfect mix of academics and athletics. The only problem there is I'll already be their top sprinter (which doesn't bother me too much). They brought in a new coach (the former coach at Lehigh) and I've been conversing with him every week about how he can specifically train me for the long and triple jump (he's a jumps/hurdles specialist and right now Davidson has no sprinters/hurdlers). </p>

<p>I think I played myself a good game, finding the best academic school I could compete at and still get better at my events.</p>

<p>EDIT: One of my very good friend signed at Bates in the 800/mile. He ran 1:58 in the 800 and 4:29 in the mile his junior year, but tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus and is unable to compete this year. He should be one of their top runners next year.</p>

<p>would expressing interest in continuing track through college increase the likelihood of admission?</p>

<p>Yes.</p>

<p>I don't know much about track but I googled D3 men's track and saw a ranking list that had Emory and the other schools I mentioned on it. So it appears that Emory has an outdoor track team, at least on the web. ;)</p>

<p>It is a great idea to have a big list and see which coaches you "click" with. If your sport is important to you you wil spend a great deal of time with the coach & team and the culture of the team is important.</p>

<p>As Ecliptica mentioned you want the best blend of track, coach, & school for you.</p>

<p>Hmmm... I'm a 20+ long jumper and a 40+ triple jumper but i wasn't recruited by anyone. Oh well, didnt really want to do track in college anyways.</p>

<p>Emory has a track team and the kids who run really like the program. Vanderbilt has cc but not track, which surprised me.<br>
Williams has a VERY strong program and you need pretty good times to get help with admission.
Haverford is a strong running school with great academics.</p>

<p>I have another problem...how should i express interest? my coach is severely disinterested in track...football is big at our school (i live up north) and he's the football coach...and he doesn't pay attention at all to track and field...our other track coach only cares about distance runners cuz he's also the CC coach. and considering i haven't received in recognition, i'm not sure how that will all play out. Comments?</p>