Opportunities for Cross Country scholarships?

I've been a dedicated cross country runner and am hoping to continue even into college. What scholarships are available for cross country athletes, and how competitive are they? Any tips on improving my application's chances would be awesome!

Many colleges and universities have scholarship opportunities for student-athletes participating in cross country. The competitiveness of these scholarships varies, depending on the school and the level of athletics. For example, the NCAA awards many athletic scholarships, including those for cross country, across Division I and Division II colleges.

For Division I schools, each cross-country team can offer up to 12.6 scholarships for men and 18 for women. Division II schools can offer up to 12.6 for men and 12.6 for women. Remember though, these numbers can be split among multiple athletes, so not every cross-country scholarship will cover full tuition. Also, Division III colleges do not offer athletic scholarships, but they often have generous financial aid packages that might be available based on academics or financial need.

Your application's success will largely depend on your performance and dedication to the sport. Here are a few tips:

1. Showcase your achievements: Highlight any races you've won, personal records, and any significant improvement over your high school career.

2. Coaches often look for progression, so if you’ve been steadily improving that will look good to them.

3. Show commitment: Coaches also want to see that you're dedicated to the sport. Show that you're not only a cross-country runner during the season but that you train year-round.

4. Get good grades: While this is an athletic scholarship, most schools also care a lot about your academic performance. Good grades can really boost your application.

5. Connect with coaches: Start reaching out to coaches at colleges you're interested in. Coaches have a lot of influence in the scholarship awards process. Express your interest in their program and ask what you can do to increase your chances.

Lastly, don't forget to look for scholarships outside of colleges. Many organizations offer sports-related scholarships. You can search for these on platforms like Appily, and others. Good luck!