Running In College: What Does it Take? (2020 Edition)

Last year around this time, I put together this post. The goal was to give our runners a guide, what they need to run to fit in and compete at the next level. Obviously, there are many more factors and I’ll just rehash them here:

Good people – those who treat others with respect, are genuine, have good relationships with those close to them.  What are they doing in their community to better the lives of others?

Hard workers – those who continue to work hard, grind away in all circumstances.  Could even be at home or their jobs.  But especially in their training.

Academics – consistency would be huge.  Would take the student who has 6 B’s over the one with 3 A’s, 2 C’s, and a D.  I’d also love someone who took on challenges, tougher classes or at a local college.

Leadership – were they captain?  If not, why?

Training environment – I hem and haw on this, but I’d go for someone who has untapped potential and less people to train with.  Someone running a 16:30 from a farm town is more impressive than the same time from a glamorous suburban school with every resource in the book.

Track times – usually the end all, be all.  The most easily identifiable and measurable, both in times of distance and surface.  Can be compared in many ways.

2019 Boys Final Ratings

BOYS SENIOR YEAR RATINGS

Division	SR Avg	SR Max	Top 25%	Top 75%	SR Min	Sample Size
Division 1	201.4	220.3	209.2	192.3	161.2	69
Division 2	187.5	206.5	196.0	183.1	137.1	75
Division 3	169.4	199.7	183.1	158.8	119.1	54
NAIA	167.5	202.1	184.4	157.7	13.9	68
NJCAA	161.8	200.2	184.8	152.0	47.0	42

Avg = the average rating of all runners running at that level

Max = the best rating of all at that level

Top 25% and 75% = shows the middle 50.  If you’re running between these ratings, you’re definitely capable of competing at that college division.

Min = the lowest rating of all at that level

BOYS JUNIOR YEAR RATINGS

Division	JR Avg	JR Max	Top 25%	Top 75%	JR Min	Sample Size
Division 1	195.2	218.3	206.9	185.9	157.4	47
Division 2	181.0	203.3	192.1	174.1	133.1	51
Division 3	165.9	195.8	180.4	158.2	88.9	32
NAIA	158.8	200.3	182.6	148.4	-53.9	44

BOYS SOPHOMORE YEAR RATINGS

Division	SO Avg	SO Max	Top 25%	Top 75%	SO Min	Sample Size
Division 1	185.8	209.9	199.2	171.4	155.3	24
Division 2	176.8	199.2	184.4	169.0	152.8	11
Division 3	157.2	187.7	175.7	136.6	96.8	12
NAIA	151.6	193.4	170.6	122.8	102.7	16

Luke Schwartz is the kid that ran 155.3 as a sophomore. He broke 18:00 late that year, then was an outstanding leader for Romeo, running in the low 16’s in his final two years. Now, he’ll be competing for Oklahoma, a Power 5 school. Anything can happen.

2019 Girls Final Ratings

GIRLS SENIOR YEAR RATINGS

Division	SR Avg	SR Max	Top 25%	Top 75%	SR Min	Sample Size
Division 1	136.0	180.5	152.7	121.2	45.1	114
Division 2	119.8	155.2	136.8	107.9	19.1	81
Division 3	89.5	145.8	112.0	69.7	-26.5	49
NAIA	93.2	146.5	118.6	80.9	-31.0	67
NJCAA	68.3	132.3	100.2	44.4	-109.0	42

GIRLS JUNIOR YEAR RATINGS

Division	SR Avg	SR Max	Top 25%	Top 75%	SR Min	Sample Size
Division 1	133.1	171.9	146.3	119.8	47.0	76
Division 2	118.9	152.1	135.6	107.0	45.5	45
Division 3	83.3	153.3	118.5	66.7	-136.4	31
NAIA	94.7	139.9	116.2	77.8	31.7	39
NJCAA	54.5	133.3	98.9	32.3	-51.3	24

GIRLS SOPHOMORE YEAR RATINGS

Division	SR Avg	SR Max	Top 25%	Top 75%	SR Min	Sample Size
Division 1	127.4	156.9	144.9	111.8	71.2	24
Division 2	116.5	146.4	126.3	104.6	91.3	12
Division 3	83.3	114.8	94.2	66.2	51.3	10
NAIA	96.7	132.2	116.7	87.6	50.3	13

Jenna Kral is that girl rated at a 71.2 as a sophomore. Her 2017 was a roller coaster; she had a few solid races in the low 21’s, but in major meets, she was above 23:00. As a senior, she was able to break 20:00, more importantly those quick times came at important moments, as she nearly PRed at her regional. In the future, she’ll be under the tutelage of my good friend Coach Filipek at Western Michigan. Anything can happen.