One Big Tip for High School Track & Field Athletes Targeting NCAA Division I Recruitment

Want to get recruited for NCAA Division I track and field? This in-depth guide breaks down how high school athletes can stand out by becoming elite in more than one event. Includes performance benchmarks, event-specific advice, and insights into what college coaches are really looking for.

It’s no secret that the NCAA, notably Division I, is the most highly sought after recruitment destination for high school track and field student-athletes. While programs in D-II and D-III, in Canada’s U SPORTS system, and in the NAIA also boast rosters with elite talent that churn out world class professional athletes, the upper echelon of D-I track and field is where the top consistently compete.

With rule changes to roster sizes increasing competition for track and field scholarships, NIL deals, and constant shifts in conference makeup, NCAA Division I track and field recruitment has changed over the past decade and continues to evolve every recruiting cycle. As a result, standing out as an elite level high schooler leading up to one’s senior (grade 12) year has become even more challenging.

So, what can high school student-athletes do? How can a track and field athlete who may be on the trajectory to reach D-I recruiters’ radars in the future differentiate themselves from their peers to become an even more appealing recruit?

Working hands-on with student-athletes and their families and collegiate track and field coaches every day, I’ve observed that there’s a way for recruits to emerge as higher-valued prospects that isn’t spoken about enough at the high school level: demonstrate elite ability across multiple events.

When a student-athlete graduates from high school and transitions into varsity athletics at the college/university level, a key shift often takes place: they are required to become part of a team with clearly defined goals. In some programs, there are even consequences for coaches if goals are not achieved.

Let’s look at why versatility matters so much to college coaches and how it directly impacts recruiting decisions.

For nationally competitive NCAA Division I coaches, the goal every year is almost always to improve on the previous one as an entire program (both men’s and women’s across XC, indoor, and outdoor). While individual accomplishments are highlights for D-I programs and are a necessity for team achievements, ultimate success comes in the form of banners and standings placement at the conclusion of conference and national championship meets.

And how does a team climb in the standings or win championships? Points.

Without points on the results sheet at meets that matter, coaches may fail to reach their goals. In high pressure programs, failure to improve - especially in consecutive years - can result in reduced funding or even job loss.

As a result, coaches at Division I programs are always seeking recruits with the highest potential to contribute the maximum number of points at championship meets (not just participation, but points). This is how coaches form their teams’ recruiting standards. Most will have four sets of recruiting standards: men’s walk-on, men’s scholarship, women’s walk-on, and women’s scholarship. By meeting the recruitment standards for a program by the end of the summer season following your junior (grade 11) year, you are putting yourself in a good position to be recruited by that team.

[Note: Recruitment standards vary from team to team and from year to year. You can view our article on recruitment standards here or visit other websites to familiarize yourself with estimated standards, but the best way to understand where you fit based on your profile as a student-athlete is by booking an advising session with me here.]

However, the potential to contribute points during your college career might not be enough. Doubling or even tripling that potential is what can make you a much higher valued recruit.

How?

Be elite in multiple events.

While it might be natural to want to specialize in your favorite event, doing so at the cost of developing in other events may not produce the recruitment results you’re looking for.

How to Maximize Your NCAA Track & Field Recruiting Potential

Advice for short sprinters

High school short sprinters seeking NCAA Division I recruitment opportunities should:

• focus on developing in and producing times in both the 100 and 200 meters;
• participate in relays, especially the 4x100m, but even the 4x400m if the opportunity presents itself;
• try the open 400m to explore it as an event (even if your time isn’t at the same level as your 100 or 200, a 400 on your resume shows versatility, speed endurance, and potential for collegiate relay events in the future); and
• consider horizontal jumps — some top sprinters make fantastic long jumpers (just look at Carl Lewis).

Advice for long sprinters

High school long sprinters seeking NCAA Division I recruitment opportunities should:

• ensure multiple events are the focus of your training and competition — whether that’s a 200/400, 400/800, or even 200/400/800 combo;
• participate in any relay event that’s available to you on your high school and/or club track and field calendar, including both the 4x100m and 4x400m, but also any medley, longer-distance, or off-distance relays.

Advice for middle-distance runners

High school middle-distance runners seeking NCAA Division I recruitment opportunities should:

• fully embrace cross country (for most college programs, all mid-distance and distance runners are part of the XC roster before XC championship season rolls around and competition rosters are reduced);
• ensure you have variety in your training and competition by stepping up and down in distance (throw in a 3000m or 3200m, mix in a 400m to highlight speed) in order to showcase elite talent in more than one event — do not be an 800m or mile specialist in high school;
• run relays.

Advice for distance runners

High school distance runners seeking NCAA Division I recruitment opportunities should:

• show potential in multiple track events that are run at the D-I level by producing top-end PRs over multiple distances (e.g., mile, 3200m, 5000m in high school to show 5000m and 10,000m potential at the D-I level);
• focus on being an elite cross country runner;
• try steeplechase events if the hurdling athleticism is there.

Advice for throwers

Throwers seeking NCAA Division I recruitment opportunities should:

• have strong PRs in multiple throwing events (for hammer, shot, and discus throwers especially, coaches will always look at your personal bests in the other two circular throwing events, plus indoor weight throw).

Advice for horizontal jumpers

Horizontal jumpers seeking NCAA Division I recruitment opportunities should:

• add the other horizontal jump to their repertoire (long jumpers who are not already triple jumping should be, and vice versa)
• explore additional events if the natural ability may be there (high jump, sprints, hurdles).  

Advice for high jumpers & pole vaulters

High jump and pole vault are more unique event disciplines, so the examples for how the kings and queens of vert can expand on their potential for NCAA Division I recruitment is a little less obvious. For these events, maybe it’s more likely that you are a single-event specialist. Alternatively, becoming a multi-event (heptathlon or decathlon) athlete or excelling in the horizontal pit could be options.

Advice for hurdlers

Hurdlers seeking NCAA Division I recruitment opportunities should:

• compete in non-hurdling events to showcase speed/power and speed-endurance;
• participate in relays;
• try hurdling over longer or shorter distances (100/110m hurdlers could become strong 400m hurdlers and 400m hurdlers could add the shorter distance hurdles event).

Advice for multi-event athletes

Multi-event athletes seeking NCAA Division I recruitment should:

• understand that even though you are already a multi-eventer, one championship heptathlon or decathlon is only scored as a single event, so coaches may look at your individual events to determine if there is a second or third event (your best and second events within your hep or dec) that could potentially earn points at the conference or national level outside of the heptathlon or decathlon.

Regardless of your primary event group, if you want to get recruited for an NCAA track and field roster spot or scholarship, developing elite ability across multiple events will give you an edge. Coaches are looking to build rosters that score points, so don’t wait to add to your toolbox. Show them your full potential to be a point-scorer for their program.

What Does "Elite" Really Mean? How Good Do I Need to Be for NCAA D-I track and field?

You might be wondering: How good do I need to be? What does “elite” actually look like? Which schools would even want me if I hit these marks across more than one event?

The short answer: it depends. That’s why understanding the recruiting landscape is so important.

Here’s what you should know:

• NCAA Division I coaches think in terms of points at championship meets. Being "elite" often means hitting performance levels that put you in a position to score points at conference meets.
• Recruiting standards vary widely by school and by conference. What qualifies as an "elite" 400m time for one program might only get you a walk-on conversation at another.
• Event versatility matters: the more scoring potential you show across multiple events, the more valuable you become. A sprinter with a strong 100/200/relay combo is far more appealing than a 100m-only specialist (assuming each sprinter’s 100m PR is the same or very similar). The same goes for distance runners who can produce XC and track points.

There is no universal “elite” time or mark that fits every school.

Your unique profile — your PRs, academic record, and event versatility — will match better with some schools than others. The key is knowing where you realistically fit.

For top-end Division I programs, “elite” is likely close to the performances in the “Elite A” columns of the tables below. For other D-I track and field programs, the definition of “elite” might be closer to performances listed in the “Elite B” columns. However, as mentioned above, having elite personal bests in more than one event and understanding that every program has its own recruiting targets, are key.

[Note: At Streamline Athletes, we specialize exclusively in track and field and cross country recruitment. We provide the most complete and accurate data available for athletes and families navigating this journey. If you’d like to build a recruiting profile with verified track and field performances, explore schools, and contact/be contacted by college coaches, create your free Streamline Athletes account here.]

Elite Performances for Division I Track & Field Recruitment (Men)

* = Indoor event

Elite Performances for Division I Track & Field Recruitment (Women)

* = Indoor event

Please note that the advice contained in this piece is not coaching advice. This information is based on my daily involvement in the recruiting processes of both student-athletes and collegiate teams. The truth is that NCAA D-I coaches are looking for prospective point-scorers, and while it’s entirely possible to be recruited for a single event, history and statistics both suggest that being elite in more than one event will contribute positively to your recruitment profile among D-I coaches.

This advice about becoming a multi-faceted performer is meant to be a small piece in your personalized recruitment puzzle. The following are still vital to your success and are not replaced simply by the inclusion of event range on your resume:

• Meet the difficult athletic performance standards of D-I teams in at least one event
• Display consistency in your track and field performances
• Achieve the grades and/or standardized test score (SAT/ACT) to be accepted into the university and/or to earn an academic scholarship
• If not covered entirely by athletic and/or academic scholarship, ensure you have the budget to make the opportunity feasible

Recruitment is a complicated and challenging journey. With over 1700 schools in the United States and Canada with cross country/track and field programs, finding the right one — that provides your sought after academic path, supports your athletic aspirations, fits your budget, and is located in the right place for you — can be daunting.

If you’d like a personalized recruitment plan with actionable steps to follow, that’s tailored 100% to you, and built on up-to-date recruiting and scholarship insights from track and field coaches/programs across the continent, I’d love to spend some time with you. Book your 1:1 recruitment advisory session with me here. Get 10% off your purchase with my promo code: BM10.

You can also create your free Streamline Athletes account here to start building your recruiting profile and exploring programs.