With the 2009 NCAA Cross-Country Championships later this month, I took a moment to speak with Kelly Strong, who helps to coach the returning Champions from the Womens' Division 1 side at the University of Washington. The Women Huskies are currently ranked number one in the NCAA polls, and are looking to bring home a second title November 23, 2009 held in Indiana. Kelly is a star on the track herself, and I spoke with her not only about the current team, but because she is the head of recruiting for the University of Washington's cross-country and track teams, I asked her what she looks for in a potential recruit and how what high school athletes should know about getting into and competing for the college of their choice. (Note: This is a two-part interview.)
1. Firstly, can you give a brief background of yourself and highlights of your own running career.
My family grew up in Seattle, then moved to Portland. I attended high school in Oregon, then college at Arizona State. In high school and college, I was blessed with phenomenal coaches who helped me raise expectations of myself and my teams. Highlights include being a 3 time Pac 10 Champion (steeplechase and 5000 meters), 5 time All American, and qualifying for 3 Olympic Trials (2000, 2004, 2008).
2. How did you become an assistant coach for the U of W and what drew you toward establishing yourself as one of the top NCAA recruiters?
Upon graduating from ASU, I missed the northwest and wanted to move back and train there...My parents had moved back to the Seattle area. Weeks after I moved from Arizona, Greg Metcalf was in the process of hiring a female assistant coach. The timing was perfect and it was an easy and smooth transition. Recruiting to Washington is enjoyable in that there are several aspects that make UW stand out to recruits. Strong academics and success in cross country/track & field added in with being in a great city, make it fun to inform prospective athletes about Washington. We are all about finding the right people to add to the team. The women on our team are here because of how comfortable they felt while on their visit to Washington.
3. What are some key things you look for in a potential recruit, or what catches your eye in an athlete?
Aside from the obvious stats from XC and Track races, we look for the right fit for our team and how the potential recruit impacts our team. A lot of times it has to do with a four or five year plan. It is beneficial to know that athletes in high school aren't training at a supremely high level so there is room to grow when they get here. Lately we have also looked into personality and adding more of the same of what is already on our team. The group that won the NCAA championship-including our entire roster- are incredible young women. They are balanced, driven, and care a great deal about one another. These are qualities we continue to look for...who wouldn't want to add those types of athletes to their team?!
4. When do you start actively scouting for potential Husky recruits, and where do you look for them? Do you keep your eye on Freshman who show promise and keep tabs on them as they progress, or do you mostly look at the upper-upperclassmen?
We focus mostly on juniors and seniors, but certainly have our eye out for the young ones too. We are big believers in steady progress and like to follow the athletes who get a little better every year. It is a good trend to follow--one which will prove beneficial in college.
5. How do you gauge an athlete's potential, so to speak, and how well they are going to perform at the collegiate level?
We look at what they have done to get to the point they are at--training, mileage, other sports, etc. Of course there are always going to be examples of people who have gotten to the same point in different ways. There, of course, is not just one way of training...so we go off what we see. Talking to their high school coaches is also very useful to gain that insight...since they have watched them from the beginning of their career.
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