Track and Field College Recruitment Standards: What performances do I need to go to my dream school? (2024)

What time do I need to run to get recruited to the NCAA? What distance do I need to throw to get coaches to notice me? What height do I need to jump to get a scholarship? These are questions that high school student-athletes are always asking and we are here to give out the answers.

Each individual university/college program has its own track and field recruitment standards when it comes to both scholarships and walk-on athletes. Do you want to know what specific performance(s) you need to achieve in order to land a scholarship at the school of your dreams? Getting in contact with their head coach is your best route of action; the coach knows what they want. And luckily for you, through Streamline Athletes, you can contact a coach in just one click, once you create an athlete profile: it’s easy and free. Create your free track and field college recruitment profile to get started.

For more information, check out how to use Streamline Athletes to help your recruitment.

College Track and Field Recruiting Standards Tables

Below are standards tables we have generated after collecting data directly from different NCAA programs and analyzing meet results. Performances at the top end of the ranges will suggest that you have a good chance of getting a track and field scholarship within the specific division you are looking at; however, if your performances are towards the lower end of the standards range, the likelihood of a big athletics scholarship is lowered. But, with that being said this is all relative and at the end of the day scholarship and signing with a team is dependent on the specific program you are looking at. There is also always the option of walking on to a team. If you want a general idea of what these standards are, click the links below to take a look at them.

College Track and Field Recruiting Standards: More Context

There can be a lot to comprehend when it comes to athletic standards. Each athletic association has its own range of recruitment standards. With the NCAA Division I generally having the most competitive collegiate conferences, D-I member schools tend to have tougher recruitment standards, but this does vary between conferences and specific schools. For example, conferences such as the SEC, Pac-12 and Big Ten, which tend to be home to some top athletic schools, will tend to have tougher standards in comparison to other Division I institutions. To give you an idea of this, let’s take a look at the top female 100m performances from the NCAA D-I during the 2021 outdoor season.

The top five times within Division I ranged from 10.87-11.08, with those athletes competing under Alabama, USC, LSU, and Oregon, schools that belong to the SEC, Pac-12 and Big South conferences. However, if you were to look at a smaller conference, such as the Atlantic 10 conference, the top ranked runner in 2021 ran 11.64. As you can see there is a wide range of performances, even within Division I. So while a top runner within the NCAA may be on a full ride scholarship, that is not to say someone in the middle of the pack, but at the top of a smaller conference, isn’t receiving a scholarship as well - it all comes down to the specific school and program. The same goes for the NAIA, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and so on.

Below you will find a list of recruitment standards. These are not set in stone and are meant to give you a general idea of what you may need to achieve in order to go to the school of your choice. Keep in mind there is a wide range of factors that coaches take into consideration when recruiting as well; not only do they look at performances and athletes who can score at conference and national championships, but they look for athletes with potential, athletes with drive and passion, athletes who they can develop.

Looking for a scholarship, too? There is a lot of money to go around. It is important to understand how scholarships work and of course the better the performance, the better likelihood of receiving a scholarship. Do your research and start connecting with coaches to find out the specifics.

NCAA DIVISION I - MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD COLLEGE STANDARDS (SCHOLARSHIP AND WALK-ON)

Top end of the range suggests you’ll be a top recruit and will have a good opportunity for athletic scholarships (full and partial) at most schools. Bottom end of the range suggests you’ll be able to walk on to some top end D-I programs or be recruited by some lower end programs, but significant athletic scholarships may be harder to find.

*Indoor event

Event

Higher

Lower

*60m

6.6

6.9

100m

10.3

10.8

200m

20.8

21.7

400m

46.1

49.0

800m

1:47

1:55

1500m

3:45

4:00

1600m

4:05

4:20

*3000m

8:09

8:53

5000m

13:58

15:20

10,000m

29:12

32:00

*60mH

7.7

8.4

110mH

14.1

15.7

400mH

50.7

56.1

3000m Steeple

8:41

9:30

High Jump

2.18m

1.95m

Pole Vault

5.4m

4.5m

Long Jump

7.7m

6.8m

Triple Jump

16m

13.9m

Shot Put

20.2

16m

Discus

57m

45m

Hammer

70m

49m

Javelin

70m

57m

*Weight Throw

22.1m

13.1m

*Heptathlon

5760

3900

Decathlon

7700

5255

NCAA DIVISION I - WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD COLLEGE STANDARDS (SCHOLARSHIP AND WALK-ON)

Top end of the range suggests you’ll be a top recruit and will have a good opportunity for athletic scholarships (full and partial) at most schools. Bottom end of the range suggests you’ll be able to walk on to some top end D-I programs or be recruited by some lower end programs, but significant athletic scholarships may be harder to find.

*Indoor event

Event

Higher

Lower

*60m

7.3

7.8

100m

11.4

12.0

200m

22.6

24.5

400m

52.2

57.0

800m

2:07

2:15

1500m

4:13

4:40

1600m

4:32

5:02

*3000m

9:02

10:57

5000m

15:46

19:08

10,000m

33:15

43:51

*60mH

8.3

8.7

100mH

13.5

14.1

400mH

58.5

1:01.5

3000m Steeple

9:49

12:39

High Jump

1.78m

1.60m

Pole Vault

4.3m

3.7m

Long Jump

6.5m

5.6m

Triple Jump

13.2m

12m

Shot Put

17m

13m

Discus

54m

42m

Hammer

63m

45m

Javelin

53m

37m

*Weight Throw

21.5m

15.2m

*Pentathlon

4200

3060

Heptathlon

5750

4470

NCAA DIVISION II - MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD COLLEGE STANDARDS (SCHOLARSHIP AND WALK-ON)

Top end of the range suggests you’ll be a top recruit and will have a good opportunity for athletic scholarships (full and partial) at most schools. Bottom end of the range suggests you’ll be able to walk on to some top end D-II programs or be recruited by some lower end programs, but significant athletic scholarships may be harder to find.

*Indoor event

Event

Higher

Lower

*60m

6.8

7.1

100m

10.6

11.2

200m

21.2

22.5

400m

47.4

50.1

800m

1:49

1:58

1500m

3:47

4:10

1600m

4:06

4:22

*3000m

8:11

8:55

5000m

14:18

15:36

10,000m

30:21

32:50

*60mH

7.9

9.0

110mH

14.4

15.9

400mH

52.3

60.4

3000m Steeple

9:03

9:54

High Jump

2.10m

1.88m

Pole Vault

5.1m

14.4m

Long Jump

7.6m

6.6m

Triple Jump

15.4m

13.6m

Shot Put

17.7m

14.8m

Discus

52.5m

44.4m

Hammer

60m

50m

Javelin

65m

52m

*Weight Throw

20m

15m

*Heptathlon

5300

3760

Decathlon

6940

4550

NCAA DIVISION II - WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD COLLEGE STANDARDS (SCHOLARSHIP AND WALK-ON

Top end of the range suggests you’ll be a top recruit and will have a good opportunity for athletic scholarships (full and partial) at most schools. Bottom end of the range suggests you’ll be able to walk on to some top end D-II programs or be recruited by some lower end programs, but significant athletic scholarships may be harder to find.

*Indoor event

Event

Higher

Lower

*60m

7.5

8.2

100m

11.8

12.8

200m

24.2

25.1

400m

54.9

59.6

800m

2:08

2:25

1500m

4:25

5:10

1600m

4:46

5:36

*3000m

9:32

13:45

5000m

17:00.4

21:10

10,000m

35:09

44:25

*60mH

8.7

10.2

100mH

13.7

15.5

400mH

1:00

1:08

3000m Steeple

10:27

14:11

High Jump

1.7m

1.5m

Pole Vault

3.8m

2.8m

Long Jump

6.0m

4.9m

Triple Jump

12.2m

11.0m

Shot Put

15.5m

11.8m

Discus

50m

35m

Hammer

55m

47m

Javelin

44m

29m

*Weight Throw

19m

13.5m

*Pentathlon

370

2160

Heptathlon

4980

3680

NCAA DIVISION III MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD COLLEGE STANDARDS (SCHOLARSHIP AND WALK-ON)

Top end of the range suggests you’ll be a top recruit and will have a good opportunity to be recruited by the top schools in the division. Bottom end of the range suggests you may be able to walk on to some top end D-III programs or be recruited by some lower end programs.

*Indoor event

Event

Higher

Lower

*60m

7.0

7.3

100m

10.9

11.4

200m

21.8

23.5

400m

47.9

52.0

800m

1:54

2:02

1500m

3:55

4:12

1600m

4:15

4:37

*3000m

8:22

8:51

5000m

14:57

15:38

10,000m

31:06

35:15

*60mH

8.5

9.1

110mH

14.7

16.3

400mH

51.9

59.6

3000m Steeple

9:16

10:25

High Jump

2.05m

1.84m

Pole Vault

4.80m

4.10m

Long Jump

7.20m

6.70m

Triple Jump

14.80m

12.90m

Shot Put

16.20m

12m

Discus

50.5m

37m

Hammer

57.5m

41m

Javelin

62m

35m

*Weight Throw

19m

13m

*Heptathlon

4970

3210

Decathlon

6580

4170

NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD COLLEGE STANDARDS (SCHOLARSHIP AND WALK-ON)

Top end of the range suggests you’ll be a top recruit and will have a good opportunity to be recruited by the top schools in the division. Bottom end of the range suggests you may be able to walk on to some top end D-III programs or be recruited by some lower end programs.

*Indoor event

Event

Higher

Lower

*60m

7.8

8.9

100m

12.1

13.3

200m

25.1

27.3

400m

55.6

1:01.3

800m

2:11

2:35

1500m

4:33

5:12

1600m

4:53

5:38

*3000m

9:44

11:09

5000m

17:25

21:31

10,000m

36:38

44:33

*60mH

9.1

9.9

100mH

14.4

18.6

400mH

1:01

1:12

3000m Steeple

10:41

12:48

High Jump

1.7m

1.4m

Pole Vault

3.6m

2.8m

Long Jump

5.6m

5m

Triple Jump

11.7m

10.2m

Shot Put

14m

11m

Discus

45m

34m

Hammer

53m

40m

Javelin

41m

31m

*Weight Throw

17m

12m

*Pentathlon

3430

2110

Heptathlon

4490

3180

NAIA - MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD COLLEGE STANDARDS (SCHOLARSHIP AND WALK-ON)

Top end of the range suggests you’ll be a top recruit and will have a good opportunity for athletic scholarships (full and partial) at most schools. Bottom end of the range suggests you’ll be able to walk on to some top end NAIA programs or be recruited by some lower end programs, but significant athletic scholarships may be harder to find.

*Indoor event

Event

Higher

Lower

*60m

6.9

7.1

100m

10.7

11.4

200m

22.1

23.1

400m

48.6

50.9

800m

1:55

2:05

1500m

3:55

4:27

1600m

4:10

4:47

*3000m

8:41

9:28

5K XC

15:05

17:45

10,000m

32:09

40:50

*60mH

8.5

9.1

110mH

14.6

16.8

400mH

56.5

62.9

3000m Steeple

9:21

10:02

High Jump

2.08m

1.83m

Pole Vault

4.8m

4.1m

Long Jump

7.2m

6.1m

Triple Jump

14.7m

12.7m

Shot Put

16.8m

11.7m

Discus

50m

33m

Hammer

57m

32m

Javelin

58m

37m

*Weight Throw

19m

12m

*Heptathlon

4900

3600

Decathlon

6500

4240

NAIA - WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD COLLEGE STANDARDS (SCHOLARSHIP AND WALK-ON)

Top end of the range suggests you’ll be a top recruit and will have a good opportunity for athletic scholarships (full and partial) at most schools. Bottom end of the range suggests you’ll be able to walk on to some top end NAIA programs or be recruited by some lower end programs, but significant athletic scholarships may be harder to find.

*Indoor event

Event

Higher

Lower

*60m

7.7

8.5

100m

12.1

12.8

200m

24.8

26.0

400m

56.8

59.6

800m

2:15

2:42

1500m

4:35

5:45

1600m

4:55

6:05

*3000m

10:09

11:31

5000m

17:54

23:54

10,000m

38:15

49:49

*60mH

8.9

10.3

100mH

14.8

18.7

400mH

1:04

1:14

3000m Steeple

11:07

12:56

High Jump

1.6m

1.4m

Pole Vault

3.7m

3m

Long Jump

5.7m

5.2m

Triple Jump

11.5m

9m

Shot Put

13.5m

10m

Discus

42m

31m

Hammer

51m

25m

Javelin

40m

24m

*Weight Throw

17m

13m

*Pentathlon

3390

2040

Heptathlon

4470

3200

Find out everything you need to know about being a highschool track and field athlete to be recruitment ready --> FAQ Blog

Still have questions? Still not sure what direction to take in your recruitment? You can research collegiate track and field/cross country programs on Streamline Athletes. Start your conversations with coaches and see what they and their institution has to offer you!

Track and Field College Recruitment Standards: What performances do I need to go to my dream school? (2024)

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