Top D1 track colleges—what are they looking for?

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and extremely passionate about track and field. I dream of being on a D1 track team in college. Can anyone help me by telling about some colleges that have the strongest D1 track programs? What do coaches typically look out for when recruiting athletes? Any info is appreciated.

Hello! It's fantastic to hear about your passion for track and field. D1 colleges with prestigious track programs include the University of Oregon, Texas A&M University, and the University of Southern California. Of course, many other colleges have strong programs as well.

Now, when it comes to recruiting athletes for D1 track, coaches generally look at a few key aspects:

Performance Metrics: Includes your times, distances, heights, etc., depending on your event. These metrics provide a concrete measure of your abilities, and consistently strong performances can be very appealing to coaches.

Potential for Improvement: While your current performance is important, coaches also want to see your potential for growth. This could be demonstrated through a steady improvement in your metrics over time, for instance.

Attitude and Work Ethic: Coaches search for athletes who are dedicated, disciplined, and have a great attitude. They particularly value athletes who exhibit leadership qualities, can work well with a team, and maintain an optimistic mindset even under pressure.

Academic Achievement: Remember that student comes before athlete in the term "student-athlete." Coaches want athletes who can do well in their coursework and maintain eligibility. So keep up your grades!

To boost your chances, I recommend reaching out to coaches with a strong interest letter and your athletics resume, which should include details like personal bests, team awards you've received, and so on. Best of luck on your journey!