[unclechuck]

Interesting stuff cardfan77; thanks. The diver conversion is atypical and intriguing; usually it goes the other way. Plus side is divers are usually explosive/fast-twitch athletes, which will translate well to sprinting. However, they also tend to be more compact (better spinning/twisting) and elite sprinters are getting bigger all the time, but the short course collegiate format would certainly be best for the modest in stature.

As DenverCard touched on, sprinters can be developed, as physical maturity and attendant raw physical strength are key for races of 100 yards or less which covers all relays but the 4X200. Generally, women mature sooner than men so you have a better feel for what the finished product will be like with them. So there might be an opportunity to pick up guys who don't train with elite age group clubs and maybe haven't even been doing year round training who would have a lot of upside. A cheap trick there is to look for guys whose long course times (if they have them) aren't nearly as good as their equivalent short course times.

I'm not clear on the regs, but I keep thinking with Stanford's robust academic scholarship program wouldn't it be possible to get a number of academically qualified 'projects' into the program on academic scholarship, and if they didn't work out, a precious sport specific scholarship is not squandered and everybody wins? In my Farm days I knew one football player, for sure, who had just that arrangement. Just curious.

[unclechuck]

Interesting stuff cardfan77; thanks. The diver conversion is atypical and intriguing; usually it goes the other way. Plus side is divers are usually explosive/fast-twitch athletes, which will translate well to sprinting. However, they also tend to be more compact (better spinning/twisting) and elite sprinters are getting bigger all the time, but the short course collegiate format would certainly be best for the modest in stature.

As DenverCard touched on, sprinters can be developed, as physical maturity and attendant raw physical strength are key for races of 100 yards or less which covers all relays but the 4X200. Generally, women mature sooner than men so you have a better feel for what the finished product will be like with them. So there might be an opportunity to pick up guys who don't train with elite age group clubs and maybe haven't even been doing year round training who would have a lot of upside. A cheap trick there is to look for guys whose long course times (if they have them) aren't nearly as good as their equivalent short course times.

I'm not clear on the regs, but I keep thinking with Stanford's robust academic scholarship program wouldn't it be possible to get a number of academically qualified 'projects' into the program on academic scholarship, and if they didn't work out, a precious sport specific scholarship is not squandered and everybody wins? In my Farm days I knew one football player, for sure, who had just that arrangement. Just curious.