Do I need to focus on academics if I am a great runner?

Hi Jacob! I think your better off focusing on the academics if high marks come that easy for you. The reason being is that colleges are more likely to want you if you have good grades than if your a good runner and you'll have a much broader choice of schools in which to choose.

Not that those are bad times tho..helluva lot faster than I can run(and i've had to run from the cops) But consider what you would do if you suffered a major injury? Got something to fall back on?

Always leave yourself with as many options in the future as you can kid.

Remember that Nick Symmonds' dad is a brain surgeon. ;)

Good Luck!

P.S. If you've been mentioned in Sports Illustrated already as "a high school track phenom" you can ignore everything above.<grin>

Colleges need to keep an eye on the academics as well. And even if you can get in some place on your running times, you're probably not going to be running professionally by the time you finish college. If your plan falls through and you're not "set" for college based on your running times, you have nothing to fall back on. Not a lot of people are going to pay you to run. You probably shouldn't throw away the running for the academics, but by no means should you think your running makes you 'set" for college either. Heck, one injury and you're screwed.

You still have to get in college, and that takes good grades. Colleges want the full package, not someone who is comfortable with not striving for their best in all aspects of their lives. Besides, what are your plans after college? Are you going to make a living off of running?

Those times aren't getting any full scholarships, especially in D1. Slacking in school is a bad idea, and making something as unpredictable as athletics your only option is not good.