Which college track programs develop athletes best?
In 1,065,240 athlete-seasons of TFRRS results from 2022 to 2026, the typical NCAA D1 program had 44% of its athletes run their season best at the conference championship or later. The best D1 programs at peaking were Jacksonville (68%), Alabama State (62%) and SE Louisiana (59%), and among Power 4 programs Baylor led at 51%.
Updated 2026-10-26 · Preferred Recruit · built from TFRRS meet results and lists (2016 to 2026)
How is "developing athletes" measured?
Three numbers per program, from every individual race on TFRRS by athletes whose pages are in this site's data, 2022 to 2026 indoor and outdoor:
- Peaked at the right time: of the athletes who competed at the program's conference championship, the share who ran or threw their season best there or later (regionals, nationals). Coaches plan seasons around that meet, so this is the clearest test of timing.
- Yearly improvement: the median change in a returning athlete's season best from one year to the next at the same school.
- In-season improvement: the median gain from an athlete's first race of the season to their season best.
A program is ranked only when at least 100 athletes (D1 and D2) or 60 (D3 and NAIA) raced its conference championship, and at least 50 or 30 returning athletes count toward yearly improvement. Mets, IC4A/ECAC and New England meets are not treated as conference championships.
What's typical in each division?
| Division | Peaked at the right time | Yearly improvement | In-season improvement | Programs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA D1 | 44% | +0.87% | +1.51% | 351 | |
| NCAA D2 | 46% | +0.90% | +1.78% | 264 | |
| NCAA D3 | 51% | +1.13% | +2.10% | 361 | |
| NAIA | 53% | +0.95% | +1.80% | 198 |
Best NCAA D1 programs at peaking
| # | Program | Peaked at the right time | Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacksonville | 68% | 159 |
| 2 | Alabama State | 62% | 340 |
| 3 | SE Louisiana | 59% | 356 |
| 4 | St. John's | 59% | 311 |
| 5 | VMI | 58% | 295 |
| 6 | Loyola | 58% | 128 |
| 7 | Wofford | 57% | 498 |
| 8 | San Diego State | 57% | 251 |
| 9 | UNLV | 57% | 189 |
| 10 | Iona | 56% | 381 |
| 11 | North Carolina Central University | 56% | 362 |
| 12 | Alabama A&M | 56% | 281 |
| 13 | Citadel | 56% | 264 |
| 14 | Austin Peay | 56% | 261 |
| 15 | Tarleton State | 55% | 602 |
| 16 | San José State University | 55% | 350 |
| 17 | East Tennessee State University | 55% | 338 |
| 18 | American | 55% | 229 |
| 19 | Central Arkansas | 54% | 737 |
| 20 | Western Carolina | 54% | 639 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 54% | 612 |
| 22 | Charleston Southern | 54% | 533 |
| 23 | UNC-Asheville | 54% | 508 |
| 24 | Winthrop | 54% | 462 |
| 25 | SC State | 54% | 410 |
Best NCAA D2 programs at peaking
| # | Program | Peaked at the right time | Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lynn | 71% | 136 |
| 2 | Benedict | 66% | 367 |
| 3 | Academy of Art University | 66% | 149 |
| 4 | Clayton State | 64% | 301 |
| 5 | Fresno Pacific | 61% | 353 |
| 6 | Staten Island | 60% | 284 |
| 7 | American Int'l | 60% | 260 |
| 8 | Roosevelt | 60% | 252 |
| 9 | Lander | 60% | 230 |
| 10 | Embry-Riddle | 59% | 931 |
| 11 | Azusa Pacific | 59% | 417 |
| 12 | Queens College | 59% | 268 |
| 13 | Morehouse | 59% | 246 |
| 14 | Claflin | 58% | 451 |
| 15 | Tuskegee | 58% | 351 |
| 16 | Savannah State | 58% | 170 |
| 17 | Allen | 58% | 146 |
| 18 | Pittsburg State University | 57% | 685 |
| 19 | Hillsdale | 57% | 511 |
| 20 | Augusta | 57% | 349 |
| 21 | Columbus St. | 57% | 348 |
| 22 | Tampa | 57% | 167 |
| 23 | Lee | 56% | 763 |
| 24 | Thomas More | 56% | 319 |
| 25 | Fayetteville State University | 56% | 290 |
Best NCAA D3 programs at peaking
| # | Program | Peaked at the right time | Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williams | 70% | 496 |
| 2 | Bowdoin | 69% | 634 |
| 3 | UC Santa Cruz | 67% | 526 |
| 4 | Western NE | 67% | 272 |
| 5 | Mount Saint Mary | 67% | 104 |
| 6 | USMMA | 66% | 321 |
| 7 | Franciscan | 66% | 263 |
| 8 | Methodist | 65% | 560 |
| 9 | Blackburn | 65% | 97 |
| 10 | Amherst | 64% | 678 |
| 11 | Bates | 64% | 670 |
| 12 | Colby | 64% | 491 |
| 13 | Oglethorpe | 64% | 305 |
| 14 | Oberlin | 64% | 259 |
| 15 | Millsaps | 64% | 223 |
| 16 | Westminster | 64% | 154 |
| 17 | Bethany Lutheran | 63% | 409 |
| 18 | Crown | 63% | 373 |
| 19 | Lyon | 63% | 326 |
| 20 | Geneva | 62% | 690 |
| 21 | Washington University in St. Louis | 62% | 565 |
| 22 | Principia | 62% | 359 |
| 23 | St. Vincent | 62% | 343 |
| 24 | North Central | 62% | 324 |
| 25 | Caltech | 62% | 258 |
Best NAIA programs at peaking
| # | Program | Peaked at the right time | Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Governors State | 76% | 162 |
| 2 | Haskell Indian | 73% | 274 |
| 3 | Soka | 73% | 131 |
| 4 | Life | 69% | 529 |
| 5 | IU Columbus | 69% | 72 |
| 6 | SCAD Atlanta | 68% | 114 |
| 7 | Mobile | 65% | 565 |
| 8 | Simpson (Cal.) | 65% | 103 |
| 9 | Taylor | 64% | 638 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City | 64% | 209 |
| 11 | William Carey | 63% | 621 |
| 12 | Spartanburg Methodist | 63% | 126 |
| 13 | Dalton State | 63% | 86 |
| 14 | Arizona Christian | 62% | 431 |
| 15 | Loyola-New Orleans | 62% | 405 |
| 16 | Harris-Stowe State University | 62% | 175 |
| 17 | Park Gilbert | 62% | 100 |
| 18 | Florida College | 62% | 72 |
| 19 | St. Xavier | 61% | 743 |
| 20 | Montreat | 61% | 479 |
| 21 | St. Francis | 61% | 336 |
| 22 | UC Merced | 61% | 184 |
| 23 | Science & Arts | 61% | 76 |
| 24 | Viterbo | 60% | 485 |
| 25 | Ottawa | 60% | 464 |
Power 4 programs ranked by peaking
| # | Program | Peaked at the right time | Yearly improvement | Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baylor | 51% | +0.50% | 435 |
| 2 | USC | 51% | +0.65% | 293 |
| 3 | Florida | 50% | +0.60% | 447 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 50% | +1.10% | 509 |
| 5 | Oregon | 49% | +0.92% | 364 |
| 6 | Georgia | 49% | +0.62% | 357 |
| 7 | Kansas | 49% | +0.82% | 385 |
| 8 | Texas | 48% | +0.82% | 470 |
| 9 | Texas Tech | 47% | +0.40% | 581 |
| 10 | Houston | 47% | +0.48% | 448 |
| 11 | Duke | 46% | +1.04% | 369 |
| 12 | Florida State | 46% | +0.59% | 347 |
| 13 | University of Miami | 45% | +0.51% | 295 |
| 14 | Oklahoma | 44% | +0.76% | 508 |
| 15 | UCF | 44% | +0.82% | 251 |
| 16 | Cincinnati | 44% | +1.02% | 348 |
| 17 | Oklahoma State | 44% | +0.73% | 470 |
| 18 | Minnesota | 43% | +0.77% | 397 |
| 19 | TCU | 43% | +0.75% | 367 |
| 20 | Purdue | 43% | +0.79% | 343 |
| 21 | Kansas State | 43% | +0.70% | 341 |
| 22 | Auburn | 43% | +0.83% | 329 |
| 23 | Miss State | 42% | +0.75% | 383 |
| 24 | Arkansas | 42% | +0.56% | 496 |
| 25 | Clemson | 42% | +0.82% | 458 |
| 26 | Arizona State | 41% | +0.29% | 257 |
| 27 | Kentucky | 41% | +0.76% | 385 |
| 28 | BYU | 41% | +1.13% | 448 |
| 29 | Missouri | 41% | +0.64% | 325 |
| 30 | SMU | 41% | +0.81% | 134 |
| 31 | Michigan State | 40% | +0.90% | 468 |
| 32 | Pittsburgh | 40% | +0.99% | 336 |
| 33 | Boston College | 40% | +0.81% | 154 |
| 34 | Alabama | 40% | +0.73% | 407 |
| 35 | Tennessee | 40% | +0.94% | 405 |
| 36 | LSU | 40% | +0.60% | 439 |
| 37 | Texas A&M | 39% | +0.54% | 468 |
| 38 | North Carolina | 39% | +1.02% | 367 |
| 39 | Nebraska | 39% | +1.22% | 556 |
| 40 | Washington | 39% | +1.07% | 266 |
| 41 | Vanderbilt | 39% | +1.08% | 146 |
| 42 | California | 38% | +0.92% | 286 |
| 43 | Virginia | 38% | +0.72% | 514 |
| 44 | South Carolina | 38% | +0.86% | 332 |
| 45 | Virginia Tech | 37% | +0.57% | 378 |
| 46 | UCLA | 37% | +0.66% | 300 |
| 47 | Utah | 37% | +1.18% | 117 |
| 48 | Syracuse | 36% | +0.81% | 239 |
| 49 | Arizona | 36% | +0.82% | 362 |
| 50 | Ole Miss | 36% | +1.15% | 402 |
| 51 | Iowa | 36% | +0.72% | 515 |
| 52 | Illinois | 35% | +0.97% | 377 |
| 53 | Wisconsin | 35% | +0.82% | 357 |
| 54 | Louisville | 34% | +1.03% | 359 |
| 55 | Wake Forest | 34% | +1.05% | 195 |
| 56 | NC State | 33% | +0.72% | 324 |
| 57 | Michigan | 33% | +0.93% | 421 |
| 58 | Iowa State | 33% | +0.89% | 406 |
| 59 | Notre Dame | 32% | +0.81% | 256 |
| 60 | Colorado | 31% | +0.77% | 183 |
| 61 | Rutgers | 31% | +1.11% | 436 |
| 62 | Maryland | 30% | +0.92% | 229 |
| 63 | Georgia Tech | 30% | +0.84% | 251 |
| 64 | Stanford | 29% | +0.79% | 304 |
| 65 | Penn State | 29% | +0.85% | 466 |
| 66 | Indiana | 26% | +0.75% | 356 |
Biggest year-over-year improvement in NCAA D1
| # | Program | Yearly improvement | Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hofstra | +2.21% | 145 |
| 2 | CBU | +1.86% | 66 |
| 3 | Charleston Southern | +1.72% | 363 |
| 4 | Campbell | +1.70% | 240 |
| 5 | Idaho State | +1.67% | 560 |
| 6 | Holy Cross | +1.65% | 668 |
| 7 | Chattanooga | +1.63% | 136 |
| 8 | FDU | +1.57% | 297 |
| 9 | North Dakota | +1.52% | 646 |
| 10 | Air Force | +1.47% | 620 |
| 11 | Portland State | +1.47% | 177 |
| 12 | Jacksonville | +1.45% | 177 |
| 13 | Citadel | +1.41% | 186 |
| 14 | Boston University | +1.40% | 558 |
| 15 | Radford | +1.38% | 223 |
| 16 | CSUN | +1.36% | 340 |
| 17 | Montana | +1.35% | 592 |
| 18 | Wright State | +1.33% | 482 |
| 19 | VMI | +1.32% | 314 |
| 20 | Miami University | +1.31% | 568 |
| 21 | Bryant | +1.30% | 622 |
| 22 | Oakland | +1.30% | 449 |
| 23 | UC Santa Barbara | +1.30% | 411 |
| 24 | Morehead State | +1.29% | 201 |
| 25 | St. Thomas | +1.28% | 872 |
Biggest year-over-year improvement in NCAA D2
| # | Program | Yearly improvement | Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Michigan | +1.86% | 342 |
| 2 | CSU-Pueblo | +1.80% | 290 |
| 3 | Bemidji State | +1.80% | 221 |
| 4 | Quincy | +1.75% | 139 |
| 5 | Southeastern Oklahoma | +1.74% | 171 |
| 6 | West Chester | +1.69% | 468 |
| 7 | Dominican University of California | +1.68% | 73 |
| 8 | Stanislaus State | +1.65% | 161 |
| 9 | Indianapolis | +1.61% | 499 |
| 10 | Point Loma | +1.61% | 166 |
| 11 | P.R.-Mayaguez | +1.61% | 121 |
| 12 | Mars Hill | +1.58% | 251 |
| 13 | Mount Olive | +1.57% | 541 |
| 14 | Young Harris | +1.56% | 63 |
| 15 | UMSL | +1.52% | 104 |
| 16 | Virginia Union | +1.51% | 243 |
| 17 | Albany State | +1.51% | 228 |
| 18 | Lincoln Memorial | +1.50% | 314 |
| 19 | UVA-Wise | +1.50% | 217 |
| 20 | West Virginia State University | +1.49% | 127 |
| 21 | Cal State East Bay | +1.48% | 83 |
| 22 | Midwestern St. | +1.45% | 275 |
| 23 | Southwestern Oklahoma | +1.45% | 61 |
| 24 | Glenville St. | +1.44% | 332 |
| 25 | Black Hills State University | +1.43% | 400 |
Biggest year-over-year improvement in NCAA D3
| # | Program | Yearly improvement | Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lehman | +4.34% | 95 |
| 2 | Western NE | +2.90% | 118 |
| 3 | Hendrix | +2.67% | 92 |
| 4 | Gordon | +2.63% | 273 |
| 5 | Rutgers-Camden | +2.49% | 125 |
| 6 | Maryville College | +2.48% | 242 |
| 7 | UMass Boston | +2.47% | 192 |
| 8 | Emmanuel | +2.25% | 345 |
| 9 | Juniata | +2.24% | 254 |
| 10 | St. Catherine | +2.16% | 115 |
| 11 | Johnson & Wales (R.I.) | +2.11% | 71 |
| 12 | Western Connecticut State University | +2.09% | 30 |
| 13 | Vermont State Johnson | +2.08% | 39 |
| 14 | Hollins | +2.05% | 101 |
| 15 | Thiel | +2.03% | 154 |
| 16 | Brevard | +2.03% | 146 |
| 17 | New Jersey City | +2.01% | 138 |
| 18 | Marymount University | +1.96% | 275 |
| 19 | RIC | +1.94% | 232 |
| 20 | PSU-Abington | +1.90% | 35 |
| 21 | Albion | +1.89% | 539 |
| 22 | Covenant | +1.86% | 220 |
| 23 | Beloit | +1.85% | 477 |
| 24 | Anderson University | +1.85% | 223 |
| 25 | Cornell College | +1.78% | 509 |
Biggest year-over-year improvement in NAIA
| # | Program | Yearly improvement | Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln College | +2.66% | 42 |
| 2 | Spartanburg Methodist | +2.14% | 99 |
| 3 | Clarke | +1.96% | 342 |
| 4 | Lawrence Tech | +1.93% | 180 |
| 5 | Bethany | +1.91% | 244 |
| 6 | Dakota Wesleyan | +1.91% | 192 |
| 7 | Pikeville | +1.88% | 151 |
| 8 | Park Gilbert | +1.79% | 123 |
| 9 | Columbia | +1.78% | 257 |
| 10 | St. Mary | +1.77% | 153 |
| 11 | St. Ambrose | +1.75% | 700 |
| 12 | Haskell Indian | +1.75% | 105 |
| 13 | Jamestown | +1.74% | 431 |
| 14 | Wayland Baptist | +1.71% | 85 |
| 15 | Benedictine | +1.70% | 583 |
| 16 | Central Methodist | +1.70% | 424 |
| 17 | Friends | +1.67% | 377 |
| 18 | PSU-Schuylkill | +1.67% | 37 |
| 19 | St. Mary | +1.64% | 804 |
| 20 | Valley City State | +1.64% | 354 |
| 21 | McPherson | +1.63% | 113 |
| 22 | Dickinson St. | +1.61% | 568 |
| 23 | Shawnee State | +1.61% | 262 |
| 24 | St. Xavier | +1.59% | 625 |
| 25 | Georgetown | +1.59% | 117 |
Common questions
Which college track program develops athletes the best?
In 1,065,240 athlete-seasons of TFRRS results from 2022 to 2026, the typical NCAA D1 program had 44% of its athletes run their season best at the conference championship or later. The best D1 programs at peaking were Jacksonville (68%), Alabama State (62%) and SE Louisiana (59%), and among Power 4 programs Baylor led at 51%.
Do college track athletes peak at the conference championship?
About half do. The typical program had 44% in NCAA D1, 46% in NCAA D2, 51% in NCAA D3, 53% in NAIA of its conference-meet athletes run their season best there or later, 2022 to 2026.
How much do college track athletes improve each year?
A returning athlete's season best improved a median +0.87% in NCAA D1, +0.90% in NCAA D2, +1.13% in NCAA D3, +0.95% in NAIA a year. In the 100m, 1% is about a tenth of a second; in the 1500m it's about 2.3 seconds.
Where does this data come from?
Every individual race on TFRRS by athletes whose pages are in this site's data (1,065,240 athlete-seasons, 2022 to 2026), joined with the school each athlete ran for that season. Relays and cross country are left out.
Using this data
Journalists, coaches and researchers are welcome to cite these numbers with a link to this page: https://trackandfieldstandards.com/guides/college-track-programs-that-develop-athletes-best.html. Rankings update as new TFRRS results come in; the numbers on each school's page match this report.