College recruiting for high school athletes
Cross country recruiting for high school runners
College cross country coaches recruit on times. REACH shows you the programs where your times, your grades and your budget line up, then puts you in front of their coaches.
Free to start. Sign up with your phone in about 2 minutes. No credit card.
The real numbers
Most college cross country runners compete outside Division I.
Only 2.2% of high school boys run at Division I. The rest of the NCAA spots are in Division II and III, and NAIA and junior college programs add more. REACH covers 2,000+ college cross country programs and 3,700+ cross country coaches with current contact details.
Source: NCAA, estimated probability of competing in college athletics (2024-25). REACH program counts as of October 2026.
Where you might fit
Every level of college cross country, in one place.
Division I
The biggest programs and the most competition for every roster spot. Athletic scholarships.
Division II
Athletic scholarships, often partial and combined with academic aid.
Division III
No athletic scholarships. Many athletes get academic and need-based aid, and coaches can help with admissions.
NAIA
Separate from the NCAA, with athletic scholarships and its own recruiting rules.
Junior college
Two-year colleges. A path to compete now, build your grades and results, and move up to a four-year program.
How REACH works for cross country
Find where you fit. Then get in front of those coaches.
Your fit at every program
Your course times plus your 1600 and 3200 on the track are scored level by level. Your grades are checked against each school's admissions, and the cost is your family's price after aid. Every school gets one fit %, with the reason behind it.
A note to each staff
Every coach email is written for that team, in your voice, with your times and your results link. Nothing sends until you tap Approve, and it goes out from your own Gmail.
Replies in one place
Coach replies come back into REACH. Follow-ups are drafted from the conversation so far, so you never repeat yourself.
Parents see everything
Your parents see every coach message in full and where each school stands.
Cross country recruiting questions
What times do coaches look at?
Your best cross country times, plus your 1600 and 3200 (or mile and 2-mile) on the track. Add a screenshot of your results and REACH reads your times.
Can REACH help if Division I coaches aren't reaching out?
Yes. That's who REACH is built for. Most NCAA cross country runners compete in Division II or III. NAIA and junior college programs add even more spots, and REACH shows you all of them for cross country.
When can I start emailing college cross country coaches?
You can email a college coach at any time. NCAA rules limit when coaches can write back, and the dates depend on the division and your grade. Division III and NAIA programs have fewer limits than Division I and II. Check the NCAA's cross country recruiting calendar for current dates.
Does REACH guarantee a roster spot?
No. REACH gets you in front of the coaches where you fit. What happens next is up to you and them.
What does REACH cost?
REACH is free to start: swipe as many schools as you like and see your fit % on every one. Full access, including coach emails, replies and follow-ups, is the Recruiting Pass at $449 once, good through graduation, or $39 a month.
See the cross country programs where you fit.
See my college cross country matchesFree to start. About 2 minutes.