Great question, and only GM can answer. All of us on Let's Run can state our opinions, point to previous examples of individuals that left college, and those that stayed.
The finances of the family and GM have to be taken into account. Also, is the coach willing to look long term, or run 4 events at the Penn Relays. One would be quick to say - "If a coach had a runner run the 4x800, DMR, 4x1600 and open 1500, all in the same 2 day event: He should turn pro!" And yet, those are the events that I ran as a freshmen at Indiana at the Drake Relays, and wondered why I was so tired for the next 2 weeks.
For most of us on the boards, we had such an enjoyable experience running for a college team, regardless the division or level of fitness attained, that we would all do it over again if we had the chance. I used to think every high school runner had the same experience that I had - a great coach, fun, won the conference title, train with others during the summer ... that I started recruiting as a college coach, and realized that I needed to ask the initial question: "How many kids are on your team?" Many times, the answer was 4 or 5, and with a school of over a 1000, you knew it was not a good training situation.
From my story, I had red-shirted an earlier cross-country season, as was coming back for my 5th year to run the 1982 NCAA championships on my home course. In the spring leading up to the Cross season, I had run my current PR in the 800, 1:46.5 (1st in San Francisco); and 3:37.34 at the US champs and won the NCAA 1500m champs in Provo. I trained a few weeks for the National Sports Festival in Indianapolis and won in 13:33, in high 80 degree temperature. I did not go to Europe to race, as I stayed home to get my mileage and long runs in to be ready for Cross-country in the fall.
Looking back, I was in peak form, and great 800m shape (for me). I would have been pulled along to some very fast 1500m times in Europe. I had run in Europe in 1981 for 45 days, winning in Moscow (US v USSR); 2nd in the 1000m behind the World Record of Seb Coe in Oslo; and 4th at the World Student Games 1500 (Aoutia won from Morocco), so I knew what it was like to race overseas, and travel from hotel to hotel.
After running with the leaders through 6k at the Cross Champs in November, the 3" of rain the night before caught up to me. I weight 135 pounds, and was build for dry land. I finished 41st, and very dejected. Two weeks later, during an indoor Indiana University home time trial meet, I ran 8:32 solo for 2 miles, so was in great shape (4:12-4:20).
What was the point - 41st? I wish I would have run in Europe the summer of 1982, and came back and skipped the opening meets for Cross, and see how I could have run at NCAA's. When you are fit - race. One always thinks when they run a PR, "Oh, wait until next race!" When Carl Lewis missed the World Record by a few 100's at the Indianapolis USATF Champs in 1983 for 200 meters, by putting his arms over his head the last 40 meters (or 50?) to celebrate, he said "oh, I will get it later - I am in great shape!" He never had the 200m WR.
GM can have a great college experience, win NCAA champs, get a college degree, meet his future wife (in many cases) and, run overseas. That is a decision for he and his family, and Team Germain.
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