USNA Cross Country Team

[USNA_Mom _2021]

My DS would like to try out for Cross Country Team. Does anyone know if there is a Cross Country summer running program and how this fits in with the Plebe Summer schedule.
Thanks!

 

[NavyHoops]

Yes. During sports period they run as a team. Many of the runs during PEP are also ability based runs (grouped by speed). The cross country runners run laps around the rest of us slow ground humans and usually between PEP and sports period get enough miles on. The majority of afternoons have a 1.5-2 hour sports period that varsity athletes go to their teams, walk one sort of get a feel with varsity teams or they play company intramurals, The problem a lot of the long distance guys face during Plebe summer is proper recovery even though they are doing less mileage than normal. You are on your feet all day long.

Take a look at the USNA sports page. There are usually target times posted for walk ins to really evaluate if they are in range.

 

[hthp37]

Most XC runners are used to running quite a bit during the summer to build their base. Plebe summer falls significantly short of that and during their PS sports periods
the xc team doesn't actually run. It's OK though, they eventually get back up to speed and start working out with team in earnest by reform.

 

[thunderheadc6]

My son just received an appointment to the USNA, he was not recruited an an athlete but has run Varsity XC for the past 3 years as well as distance Track and is Co-captain His team was 3rd at 3A State this year. How does he go about contacting the coach and being a walk-on candidate, does he still need to be NCAA eligible -he has contacted his admissions officer but we have not heard back yet. His Pr is a 17:10 for a 5K and just ran a 10k at 37:43 He is hoping to run under 4:45 for the 1600 and get his 3200 down to a low 10, his PR is 10:27

 

[DesertCaliMom]

Regional BGOs usually have coach info, or you can look at the athletics page, too.

 

[ahs67]

My son just received an appointment to the USNA, he was not recruited an an athlete but has run Varsity XC for the past 3 years as well as distance Track and is Co-captain His team was 3rd at 3A State this year. How does he go about contacting the coach and being a walk-on candidate, does he still need to be NCAA eligible -he has contacted his admissions officer but we have not heard back yet. His Pr is a 17:10 for a 5K and just ran a 10k at 37:43 He is hoping to run under 4:45 for the 1600 and get his 3200 down to a low 10, his PR is 10:27

Check out the teams webpage to get a sense of the times they are running. HS XC is 5k, while mens college jumps to either 8 or 10k. For many runners, that is a tough transition.
It is Division 1, so the times are more competitive than those you posted but your son may have big drops in time this year to present to the coaches.
There is usually an opportunity during (or just after) Plebe Summer to try out for team. And there is a plee track smoker towards the end of July that plebes compete in. XC and track coaches are usually present for that. And yes, he does need to be NCAA eligible. It's fairly straightforward to go to NCAA.com and register. Good luck

 

[breakitbuyit]

Also hoping to make the cross country & track teams. I was told during Plebe Summer there's times where anyone interested in XC is able to run & that there's tryouts at some point over summer. I also remember hearing somewhere that it's a very much you-cut-yourself kind of program. If anyone has more info. I'd love to hear it/ask questions

 

[18mamag]

My DS would like to try out for Cross Country Team. Does anyone know if there is a Cross Country summer running program and how this fits in with the Plebe Summer schedule.
Thanks!

 

[18mamag]

Can you PM me?

 

[time2]

During plebe summer there are opportunities to interact with the various coaches and they do have that plebe track smoker at some point. XC also has a JV team, but you won't find much published about it. Being on any varsity sports team at USNA can be a BIG time drain and would be better if a plebe got a sense of how well they are doing academically before being overly focused on varsity sports. Many on the team are merely benchwarmers and still spend as much time in training. You will find many sports teams where there is a fairly high turnover rate for that reason. It isn't really something you need to focus on before starting plebe summer.

 

[NavyHoops]

There was a thread awhile ago on this topic. Recommend you use the search function for cross country in the USNA area. A user had posted some target times that the coaches look at.

And I agree with what has been posted here. It is a huge time commitment. A lot of work for possibly never suiting up.

 

[hthp37]

Also hoping to make the cross country & track teams. I was told during Plebe Summer there's times where anyone interested in XC is able to run & that there's tryouts at some point over summer. I also remember hearing somewhere that it's a very much you-cut-yourself kind of program. If anyone has more info. I'd love to hear it/ask questions

The coach does not have plebes run during PS. The (mostly) recruited kids meet during sports periods but they don't run until summer is over. And that's usually when there is an opportunity to try out as well, but I'd encourage plebes to reach out sooner. The varsity usually spends first 2 weeks of August training in some location other than Annapolis, like New Mexico or Colorado, for example.
There is a plebe track smoker towards the end of July in which plebes(track recruits and others), compete for fun and company bonding time. Coaches are usually present.
As far as times, as a previous poster suggested, look around in this forum or at Navy track/xc pages for meet results to give you an idea. Off the top of my head though I'd say 5k's under the 16 minute mark and mile times under 4:25 would probably be a good start to get the coaches attention.
And finally, XC and Track are 4 season sports in terms of training. They can be a massive time suck and are a big commitment.