Don't let people tell you that you can't be great going to a D2, D3, or NAIA school. A lot of people told me that in high school, I had a fun time proving them wrong!!! :D

@cecilsmith24

5 жыл бұрын

But how much harder did that rejection make you work, than if you would have been accepted with your times?

@nykia31

5 жыл бұрын

People gotta keep in mind that if you are running collegiately at ANY level...you are in the 1%...that's nothing to ever be ashamed of.

Oregon done messed up

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

yes, yes they did :D

@patrickstock8568

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed

Hmm I wonder what those former coaches are thinking now knowing that they turned down who would be one of the greatest American middle distance runners in history 😂

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

I hope they are a bit embarrassed that they missed that one!

@bennettbrake6553

5 жыл бұрын

Crazy how so many big D1 coaches only looks at PR’s. Development is hard to measure but it’s one of the most important things when recruiting high schoolers to run for your program

@zacknemtsev5104

5 жыл бұрын

Probably pretty posses

@snakey973

5 жыл бұрын

I hope the salt stings their eyes

This is a nice video. So many high schoolers are misled by how college running unfolds. Running D1 is appealing to many (I was guilty of this until I started my D2 running career) simply because you get to say you ran D1. Symmonds along with other many others like recent grads David Ribich and Drew Windle have had boatloads of success and didn't attend the premier D1 universities. At the bottom-line, a divison is a just a label. The key is finding a school, program, and coach that aligns with ones desires. Also, Symmonds is being a little too modest in this video. He makes a good claim for the best U.S.800m runner ever with prs of 1:42 and the range to run 3:34. He won 6 U.S. championships and finished fifth in the greatest 800m race ever; the 2012 olympics.

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

Drew and David are other GREAT success stories!!

This is so true. I am a walk on at my D2 university, simply because I decided when I graduated high school that I wanted to run in college. I definitely wasn’t the fastest guy in my team, much less a state champion in high school. I got in contact with the coach and everything fell into place from there. I love it. You can do it!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

LOVE THIS STORY!!!

2:30 - 2:40 You won't find any better advice out there, " Coach I wanna run for you BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, AM WILLING TO LISTEN, AM WILLING TO LEARN AND AM WILLING TO WORK MY ASS OFF"

Walked onto my JUCO team as a mediocre high school pentathlete, left 2 years later as an academic all-American in the decathlon and finished 5th at nationals. Some people blossom later in their career

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

incredible!! and so true. Most T&F athletes don't peak until their mid to late thirties

I'm currently 15 and going into my junior year and run officially 5:12 in the 1600, 11:19, and 18:23 in the 5k. But I have been training my butt off this summer so far and already dropped off 24 seconds down to a 17:59 in a road race and believe that I will be able to go under 17:30 in xc, sub 5 in the 1600, and sub 10:50 in the 3200. My dream is to run for NKU (a small D1 school in Northern Kentucky) people have told me since the start of my freshman year when I started the season at 21:51 and even improving a lot struggled to break 20 until the end of the season, that I would never be good enough to run in college, and then I watched this video and decided to put all of my time and energy into running and now almost 2 years later have already talked to multiple NAIA and D3 college coaches about going for a visit and talking about running for them after my junior year is over, nothing from NKU yet, but with how much I've improved and being younger than most of the people in my graduating class, might be fast enough my senior year to talk to them about running scholarships, and it's all thanks to watching this video 20 months ago that gave me the confidence to go out and work for it. Thank you. I will come back to this video for a final time once I have signed on to a college in around a year and a half.

@BigCamGod

Жыл бұрын

Hows it going

@jacobfaughtrunningproducti974

Жыл бұрын

@CamGodd I just ran a pr of 17:20 in a road race 2 days ago, hoping to go under 17 this XC season and make state. I ran 4:57 and 10:44 this past track season. And I have a visit set up for later this month at a D2 college and a lot more colleges that want to recruit me(most D3 but I want to go NAIA or D2 for athletic scholarship money since I can't really afford with no scholarship and aren't smart enough to get a lot for academics)

@tpiet

8 ай бұрын

@@jacobfaughtrunningproducti974did you end up deciding on where you’ll go? Don’t forget juco is not a bad route as well that is what I’m currently doing.

@dstewart3427

6 ай бұрын

keep us updated! excited for you!

@jacobfaughtrunningproducti974

6 ай бұрын

@dstewart3427 I ran 16:50 this past cross country season, I just signed with rio grande(26th at NAIA nationals) and I'm going for sub 10 and sub 4:35 this spring

Excellent advice, Nick! Wish we had this video two years ago when my son was going through the stress of considering college programs. You have been one of his idols for years. Thank you for being an excellent role model!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

glad people are finding these videos helpful!

I walked on at a JUCO and then ended up getting a full tuition scholarship at a D2 school. Your development doesn't end in high school.

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

such a GREAT story! Love that. So many kids can do the same.

@bennettbrake6553

5 жыл бұрын

Cheeplestase you’re exactly right. It’s hard for coaches to measure how well their recruits will develop but it’s one of the most important factors. You might have someone who’s breaking records in high school and then gets to college and gets injured or just can’t run a new pr because they’ve peaked in high school. It’s crazy how much can change in a short amount of time when transitioning from high school to college

Great video Nick, really appreciate all the wisdom you share on your videos, will be forwarding to my daughter 👍🏽

This touches my heart thank you nick!!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

very glad you like it!!

I ran D3 track in college (200m, 400m). Wasn't the fastest, but as Nick said, if you want to run, then do it!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

And I bet you had a ton of fun doing it!! :D

very inspirational. thanks!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

glad you liked it!!

You're super awesome. My son is currently a hs sophomore who has dreams of running in college- I passed this, and other videos of yours, onto him Thanks for giving back

Love this❤️✊🏼

Don't forget the community college system if you want to learn a vocation and run against some talented runners one of my team mates went from Spokane CC to Kansas been coaching for 20 years at Eastern Oregon. Rob Conner Portland Coach started out in the community college system too.

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

Yes! I mention CC at 2:09 in this video

This video inspired me to write an email to the head coach of RIT, my dream school. Thanks Nick, this was what I needed coming off of an injury!

What a great story! Awesome! Mj

Great advice! I hope this helps people believe they can run in college, instead of just focusing on D1 schools and know their times may not be good enough to make that level, to keep looking and make it happen if this is important for them.

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

If I had been discouraged that I didn't run D1 I would never have had the opportunity to run pro!

Great message, Nick! :)

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

an important one for a lot of kids

Come Back after so much time to see and you are doing great work

I agree I wanted to run D1 but knew it wasn’t even close to happening. Settling for D3 and am happy with my decision. Good luck to those who choose very few continue on in high school at any level.

Conpletely true! There are many schools in kansas in the NAIA that have many runners come in without great high school times and leave with D1 times. One of my teammates ran 19:30 for a 5k in college and ended up running low 31’s for a 10k towards then end of his time there

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

thats a HUGE improvement!!! I love the NAIA system.

I love this!! Prove them wrong!!

Great message

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

thanks for watching!!

Nick I wish my son had listened to you in 2009 but he thought he wanted to act instead.Now he's in the US Navy going to college in Monterey,Ca. learning Russian as an interpreter! I guess my dream for him was different from his own.He still loves to run and lift though ! This makes me extremely happy for him.I will tell him about your Run Gum and your training tactics to maybe achieve his best performances from sprinting to middle distance running.Thank you Nick.

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

thanks for the message! We all have to follow our own path in life :)

Thanks!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

thank YOU!

You should see what it is like in the UK! We have no big running setups at university (college) besides a few specialised universities. We would not even dream of running in Nike or adidas university kit. At most universities, the coach will be a second year (a sophomore) who has the most experience in running. But it you want something, if you want to reach a high level in running, you can damn well get there if you give it your best.

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

I've had a some friends from the UK tell me the same thing. We are very fortunate here in the states to have the collegiate system!

You forgot to mention club running! NIRCA clubs are probably a good fit for most people!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

Absolutely!! I know U Oregon has a really great running club.

You are great champ......

Thanks nick

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

no prob!

NICK I KNOW THISSS YOU THE D3 GOAT LOYAL FAN LOVE YOUR VIDS

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

Love you too!

Man I love a real life underdog story 💪💪💪

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

Idaho Underdog FTW!! :D

So many high schoolers are mislead by what it takes to run in college. It’s really just passion in running. The times don’t matter! If a D3 or NAIA coach tries to tell you that he has “standards” then he’s just hurting himself. What really matters is development and heart.

I was JUST telling my friend I want to run in college and then you uploaded this!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

hope it helped a bit!!

@ericperez4385

5 жыл бұрын

@@nicksymmonds It did help Thank you! I want to be a professional runner so badly

Literally, ive always wanted to run in college but never knew what for, i always planned on going D1 or D2 for cross country, now 3 years later and im about to sign to a D2 school for the 400 dash. Never would've guessed I could

Wow, that coach needs to have a growth mindset. #ProvedHimWrong

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

Felt GREAT to prove him wrong!!

Nick Symmonds, you are my idol haha

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

thank you!!! :D

As a late bloomer, coming out of the US Coast Guard at age 23 after 4 years of inactivity, I wanted more than anything else to join the track team when I went back to college. I had financial limitations, a wife, and not many options. I talked to the head track coach at the University of Washington, and was told I was welcome to try out, but that I'd be very unlikely to make the team. He suggested I look in to the local community college, since they had a very good Nursing program, which was my chosen field of study.I walked on to that team, and thanks to fantastic coaching as well as talented teammates, within a year I was performing much better than I ever did in high school. My college track and field experience is one of my fondest memories. I continue to compete in Masters Track and Field at age 55, and coach high school track as well. If it weren't for the fact that I was willing to pursue my dream of collegiate competition wherever it took me, I'd have missed out on all of the joy and happiness that track and field has brought me in my post-high school life. Work hard, dedicate yourself to being the best you can be, and you can have a very rewarding collegiate experience. Plus, you might even have the satisfaction of being able to grin and stick it to those who thought you didn't have what it takes, just like Nick did!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

this is such a GREAT story!!! Exactly what kids need to hear. It about the journey and the memories!!

So true. Mike Rodgers went to NAIA.

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

he's had a great career!

Begs the question. What were your times in high school for which you were turned away by the ducks coach?

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

at the time I was talking to him, 1:55 in the 800m and 4:25 in the 1600m.

First! 😂😂 Great video Nick! Your story is inspiring and motivating for every age and level of athlete!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

thank you!! I want every kid to know that they can run in college if that is their dream.

@mikerider8966

5 жыл бұрын

Nick Symmonds I’m beyond college sports now, I wish I had paid more attention and had more exposure to the sport when I was 15-18. Your success and story is fuel for another young persons success. Thanks again for sharing!

i wanna run do XC and track in college I know my times aren’t good enough but I wanna improve and hopefully maybe transfer later on!!

Moral of the story never loose hope

I should have done D2 or D3. I did D1 as a walk-on and it was a mistake. Coach didn't give a crap about me, only focused on the top runners, I kept getting injured, raced once or twice and quit. Now I have arthritis and chronic knee pain and can't run at all. Oh well. I go hiking instead!

I recently got cut from my school's D3 team. I can't imagine a life without being on a team. I even want to run on the elite level after college. It's really hard to improve when running by yourself, but I think I can do it. To say that there is a program for everyone seems wrong to me. I have been training hard for years and I can't even compete on the lowest 4-year collegiate level.

@VillazCrwn

Жыл бұрын

How’s it been going now??

Any good weightlifting exercises for 800m runners? An in depth video on this would be cool.

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

yes! will make a lifting video soon

Such a helpful video! What grade would you reccomend to start contacting coaches as I am just a sophomore?

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

Your junior year.

have you ever spoken to that eugene coach, who declined your application, again after all your accomplishments? nevertheless great story! have you thought about writing a biography at some in your life?

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

Never saw him again. I have a book out, it is called Outside the Oval Office. It is available on Amazon :)

Hmm..should also have asked you if you ever ran against Robbie Andrews.I'm impressed with his runner's fighting spirit as yours.If you did I'd really enjoy you recounting it and the thrills of that race.To me that's the juice of running.Putting yourself in the gunslingers arena manu e manu to force your and their best out.

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

I know Robbie well! Not sure that I ever raced him tho.

@paultoy9611

5 жыл бұрын

@@nicksymmondsHe's a finisher such as yourself.As for your being over the hill Nick I say no way if the drive's still within you.I can see you breaking 10.7 100m and using that to a new personal best in the 400m under 47 if you pursued it properly.This was I think the only thing keeping you away from a gold medal.Rudisha and that other fella that got you at the end of your silver race I think got you only because their gliding speed in a 400m was about 49 with pb's probably around 46 or a tad under.When I was young there was a unique 400/800 runner from Cuba.That guy was Alberto Juantorena aka."The Horse".Horse was at least a 44 in 400m and maybe your 800 was faster.Point of it is that quarter speed really seems to be a key in the middle distances.If you can run a sub 47 400m which the 100/200 would put you into position to do then when you run a Rudisha maybe you're not gassed and your finish will have a lot more sting.Maybe you pull the trigger earlier say at 600m and force them into a drive they can't hold as long as you.Anyway no matter what I really enjoy watching you.Oh yeah,what flavors are the Run Gum and their prices?

Also community college! Many people overlook community college because of the stigma it has of “being like a high school” or “not real college” which is complete nonsense. Many CC especially here in California are very competitive and even better than some D1, D2, D3 and NAIA schools. It can be a great stepping stone to really develop into a college runner and then transfer to a 4-year after you’re done in CC. Plus you’ll cut your tuition cost and maybe even save some money and get more scholarship money for a 4-year.

I want to run at the University of Oregon when I am done with high school. As a freshman, my 800m is 2:23, my mile is 5:20, and my 5k time in XC is 19:12. Any advice on getting better times so I can get accepted to Oregon I want it more than anything in the world!

Hey Nick, big fan. Just wondering, what year should people start reaching out to coaches? (I'm currently a sophomore.) Given that, from what I've heard, most recruiting/contact with colleges happens in 11th grade, what should the plan be for an underclassman? Thank you so much for your time!

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

yeah, recruiting doesn't really start until you are a junior. thats when I would start reaching out to coaches

@nickye-l6684

5 жыл бұрын

@@nicksymmonds thank you so much! really appreciate it!

Do you have any tips on getting a college scholarship if I'm coming from foreign country?

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

email coaches!! as many as you can

Coaches: You're too slow for us. Coaches now: We don't deserve you...

Nick I’m a senior in High school and I’ve already applied and been accepted into Willamette University. I want to run track in college hopefully there. However I didn’t run at all my junior year(to do high school Judo) so my prs are very slow and not the fastest I can run. Should I try to get in contact with the coaches at Willamette now or after I run all my races and hopefully drop my times this year so my times will look better?

@joshe.4419

5 жыл бұрын

You really inspire me and I just hope you know you inspire so many other like me.

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

Not sure if this is still the case, but when I was there they let pretty much anyone on the team.

What if you’re 31 and want to run again? And feel like you can do it?

In the time of this video, the world record holder for the mile just ran it

According to let’s run, you ran 1:53,4:19 and 9:30 in high school. I realize that may not be enough for Oregon but I’m fairly certain that’s enough for some high tier D1 colleges. If not that what do they expect you to run in hs?

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

Problem is I didn't run that until state my senior year. Most scholarship money is allocated before that.

@paultoy9611

5 жыл бұрын

Uh...Galen Rupp stuff maybe? That guy I think may have run high 13's in 5k? SMH

I’m 19 I graduated highschool in 23 and regret not running

I’m a freshman and I run cross country (17:11 5k) and this is my first ever track season (4:44, 2:08), what should I do in the winter and summer off seasons to get a sub 2 and sub 4:30 next year?

@lxoswunder

2 жыл бұрын

hey bro what are you running now?

@samjacobsen9256

2 жыл бұрын

@@lxoswunder I finished my freshman season with 2:04, 4:34. Now I run 52.0, 1:54, 4:11, and 9:09

@richardthegingerbo909

9 ай бұрын

@@samjacobsen9256 Nice! Good luck to you.

What did the ducks coach say? "You would be lucky to walk, on my team?"

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

he did! then I beat all of his athletes every weekend :D

@pacervault3350

5 жыл бұрын

@@nicksymmonds I LOVE that, lol...I hope you grinned evilly at him at the finish line😊

What if you took 3 year brake after high school. Do you think I can still run college?

Is there qualifying times for d3 track

How do u get into track without getting a high school diploma

Hey,please could i ask if track and field programs in university do tryouts?🥺

What do you think you need for 1600 and 3200 to run at a big D1 school

could a freshman email a college coach even though there r many years before graduation?

How do you make running a job and get money from it

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

run fast, win races, get sponsored

Im Running A 26 5k rn but I’ll probably be 17-18 by senior year, can i still run in college?

What time did you run for the 800m when you were 17?

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

1:55

Is there a simple program for noobs that want to start mid-long distance running that you recommend?

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

I'm sure there is! Have you looked into joining a local running club?

@superninteyninegm8282

5 жыл бұрын

@@nicksymmonds In east Asia is not that common I guess.....Idk

Nick what is your time when you run first 800m

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

my first ever 800 I ran low 2's

@Ak-ig8os

5 жыл бұрын

@@nicksymmonds at what age and how much you break your time year by year kindly reply if you want to reply

What’s the best time for a D1 or D2 school in sprinting in track mine is 7.84 PR in 55 m

@nicholasvasconcellos6273

3 жыл бұрын

Sub 6.8 55m FAT

@kadahnichristian8556

3 жыл бұрын

@@nicholasvasconcellos6273 what about D3

Can I email a coach even if I’m a sophomore in highschool

@nickkruger5400

5 жыл бұрын

TJ Sanders wait till junior year

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

@@nickkruger5400 yep, I would wait till you are a junior

What were your hs times

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

1:55 for 800 and 4:25 for 1600 when I was a junior

W

do you have to try out to run in college??

I’m planning on going to auburn for college I am a freshmen running a 2:06 800 and I also run Xc I should be able to get my time below 2:00 before 10th grade

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

keep training hard!

2nd

@nicksymmonds

5 жыл бұрын

thanks for the comment! :D

@elclashh209

5 жыл бұрын

@@nicksymmonds No problem it's not the most creative comment but I'm not usually this early to ur vids. Just watched the vid it's inspiring to hear you run D3 and ended up making it pro. I'm a sophomore in HS and dream of running for a D1 college here in Arkansas or maybe out of State. Thank you for giving me that little bit of motivational boost go out and put in the work to do it.