The University of Oregon's track and field program is one of the most prestigious in the country, with a rich history of producing Olympic athletes and NCAA champions. If you're a high school student-athlete with a passion for track and field, you may be wondering what it takes to be recruited by the University of Oregon. In this article, we'll break down the recruiting requirements and provide tips on how to increase your chances of being recruited by the Ducks.
Overview of the University of Oregon Track and Field Program
The University of Oregon track and field program is a NCAA Division I program that competes in the Pac-12 Conference. The program has a long history of success, with 30 NCAA team championships and 134 individual NCAA champions. The team is led by head coach Robert Johnson, who has been at the helm since 2009.
Recruiting Requirements
To be recruited by the University of Oregon track and field program, you'll need to meet certain academic and athletic requirements. Here are the requirements:
- Academics: You'll need to meet the NCAA's minimum academic requirements, which include:
- A minimum GPA of 2.3 in core courses (English, math, science, and social science)
- A minimum SAT score of 1010 ( Evidence-Based Reading and Writing & Math) or ACT score of 86 (sum of four scores)
- Completion of 16 core courses, including four years of English, three years of math, two years of science, and two years of social science
- Athletics: You'll need to meet the athletic requirements for your specific event or events. Here are the general guidelines:
- Sprinters (100m, 200m, 400m): 10.8 seconds or faster in the 100m, 21.5 seconds or faster in the 200m, 47.5 seconds or faster in the 400m
- Distance runners (800m, 1500m, 5000m): 1:54.0 or faster in the 800m, 3:55.0 or faster in the 1500m, 14:10.0 or faster in the 5000m
- Hurdlers (110mH, 400mH): 14.2 seconds or faster in the 110mH, 52.5 seconds or faster in the 400mH
- Jumpers (high jump, long jump, triple jump): 6-8 or higher in the high jump, 23-0 or farther in the long jump, 47-0 or farther in the triple jump
- Throwers (shot put, discus, javelin): 55-0 or farther in the shot put, 165-0 or farther in the discus, 190-0 or farther in the javelin
- Recruiting Questionnaire: You'll need to fill out the University of Oregon's recruiting questionnaire, which can be found on the team's website.
Tips for Increasing Your Chances of Being Recruited
While meeting the recruiting requirements is essential, it's not the only factor that determines whether you'll be recruited by the University of Oregon. Here are some tips to increase your chances:
- Start early: Begin researching the University of Oregon's track and field program and reaching out to the coaching staff as early as possible. This will give you a head start on the recruiting process and allow you to build a relationship with the coaches.
- Create a recruiting profile: Make a recruiting profile on websites like NCSA Athletic Recruiting or CaptainU. This will allow you to showcase your athletic and academic achievements to college coaches.
- Attend track and field camps: Attending track and field camps can be a great way to get noticed by college coaches. The University of Oregon offers several track and field camps throughout the year, which can be a great opportunity to meet the coaching staff and showcase your skills.
- Perform well at track and field meets: Performing well at track and field meets, particularly at the state and national levels, can help you get noticed by college coaches.
- Stay in touch with the coaching staff: Once you've made contact with the coaching staff, be sure to stay in touch. Send them updates on your athletic and academic progress, and ask for their advice on how to improve.
What to Expect During the Recruiting Process
If you're lucky enough to be recruited by the University of Oregon, here's what you can expect during the recruiting process:
- Initial contact: The coaching staff will make initial contact with you, either by phone or email. They'll introduce themselves, explain the recruiting process, and ask for your athletic and academic information.
- Recruiting questionnaire: You'll be asked to fill out the University of Oregon's recruiting questionnaire, which will provide the coaching staff with more information about your athletic and academic background.
- Unofficial visit: You may be invited to take an unofficial visit to the University of Oregon, which will give you the opportunity to meet the coaching staff, tour the campus, and get a feel for the team's culture.
- Official visit: If the coaching staff is interested in recruiting you, they may invite you to take an official visit to the University of Oregon. This will give you the opportunity to meet with the coaching staff, tour the campus, and get a feel for the team's culture.
- Scholarship offer: If the coaching staff decides to offer you a scholarship, they'll contact you to discuss the details of the offer.
Conclusion
Getting recruited by the University of Oregon track and field program is a challenging and competitive process. However, by meeting the recruiting requirements, creating a recruiting profile, attending track and field camps, performing well at track and field meets, and staying in touch with the coaching staff, you can increase your chances of being recruited by the Ducks. Remember to stay focused, work hard, and always strive to improve. Good luck!