How to Get Recruited for College Cross Country
Division I
High School Qualifications
- 4 Years Varsity
- State Champion or High State Finish (dependant on level of competition: 1A, 2A, 3A
- Awards such as All-State/Region
- Meet of Champions Qualifier or High Finish (All Divisions in the State)
- Team MVP & Captain
AAU and USTAF Qualifications
- USATF Regional & National competition strongly preferred
- Participation in Track Club
National Events
- USATF National Club Cross Country Championships
- USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships
- AAU Nationals
Regional Events
- USATF Association Championships (State JO’s)
-
USATF Regional Championships (Regional JO’s)
*The U.S. is broken down into 15 Multi-State Regions
| Event |
Tier 1 |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 2 |
| 5,000M (5K) | 15:00 | 15:30 | 15:50 | 16:15 |
| 10,000M | 31:15 | 32:17 | 32:59 | 33:51 |
Division II
High School Qualifications
- 3+ Years Varsity
- State Qualifier or High State Finish depending on level of competition (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A)
- Awards such as All-Region/Section/County/Conference/League
AAU and USTAF Qualifications
- USATF Regional competition preferred
- Participation in Track Club preferred
| Event |
Tier 1 |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 2 |
| 5,000M (5K) | 16:20 | 17:00 | 17:15 | 17:30 |
| 10,000M | 34:01 | 35:24 | 35:56 | 36:27 |
Division III
High School Qualifications
- 2+ Years Varsity
- State Qualifier preferred
- Awards such as All-County/Conference/League
AAU and USTAF Qualifications
- USATF competition is beneficial
- Track club participation is beneficial
| Event | Tier 1 | Tier 2 |
| 5,000M (5K) | 17:00 | 18:00 |
| 10,000M | 35:24 | 37:29 |
NAIA
High School Qualifications
- 2+ Years Varsity
- State Qualifier preferred
- Awards such as All-County/Conference/League
AAU and USTAF Qualifications
- USATF competition is beneficial
- Track club participation is beneficial
| Event | Tier 1 | Tier 2 |
| 5,000M (5K) | 17:00 | 18:00 |
| 10,000M | 35:24 | 37:29 |
Cross Country by the Numbers
Note: Division III schools offer merit, academic, and need-based scholarships.
