For years now the American running scene has captured many promising British runners, ever wondered if it’s for you? Read on as we explore the pros and cons with middle distance specialist Ross Millington.
A move to the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, in January 2009, kick-started a five year stint in America for Millington, an experience he would recommend to any young athlete.
While scholarships aren’t necessarily elitist, they do come with athletic and academic requirements. Applicants must first be accepted by the university before they can represent their sports team, then they have to show they have the athletic prowess the university seeks to be selected to ‘advertise’ them.
Scholarships aren’t possible for everyone, but for Millington the idea was in the pipeline from the age of 16 when he started to take athletics seriously.
In the run up to his American dream in 2008, the Stockport Harrier athlete was at the forefront of his age group and boasted several notable personal bests: 1,000 metres – 2.39.84; 1,500 metres – 3.45.13 and 8.20.48 for 3,000 metres indoors.
As with any university experience, moving away from home presents the opportunity to broaden your social horizons. Coupled with the “incredible” places America has to offer, going across the pond to study and compete offers opportunities that can’t always be offered in Britain.
In terms of athletics, the system used in America is much more developed, too. Millington revealed: “The NCAA system is far more advanced than the university system in England in terms of competition, facilities and the overall development as an athlete.
“There seems to be a lot more structure out there which leads to a much more professional approach to training and competing, and the level of competition in the NCAA is world class in some events and close to world class in many others, which again is something the English university system cannot offer.”
Millington, 24, opted to study and train at a university situated in Albuquerque which offers the added benefit of being at altitude.
Albuquerque has a ranging altitude of 1,490 metres near the Rio Grande and over 1,950 metres in the foothill areas of Sandia Heights and Glenwood Hills. “Being at altitude for five years is something that has benefited me and will continue to do so going forward with my running,” Millington spoke.
Last, but not least, is of course money. With tuition fees in Britain soaring through the roof, scholarships in America offer a very appealing, debt free experience.
Millington added: “From a financial standpoint, having been fortunate enough to gain a full athletic scholarship at New Mexico, I don’t have any student loan or debts to pay which is obviously nice and something I don’t have to worry about now I have graduated.”
The obvious and most predominant downfall is distance. Almost 4,000 miles separates England and America, and being away from close friends and family can inevitably take its toll.
Some athletes are put off going abroad based on rumours of people being forced to race or run stupid mileage, but Millington insists this was not the case: “I didn’t experience any of the horror stories that you can hear about.
“I developed quite a unique situation with my coaching as from the autumn of 2010 I was coached by Steve Vernon who is based back here in England.”
Coached by the universities head coach, Joe Franklin, when he first started out in America, Millington opted to revert to Vernon due to lack of “an overall plan” with Franklin’s schedule.
“When Steve started helping me out I found the overall structure of his training much better suited to me.
“The only taint on my time out there was spending the end of 2012 and most of 2013 injured, which wasn’t necessarily caused by any factors out there, just a bad run of luck.”
Since returning from Albuquerque the Stockport Harrier athlete made an appearance at the Bupa Great Edinburgh International, where he finished a solid eighth in a stellar field including Asbel Kiprop, Kenenisa Bekele and Gareth Heath.
One week later and the 24-year-old claimed gold over 1,500 metres at the Northern Athletics Championships in Sheffield.
Northern Athletics senior men’s 1,500m final:
“Right now I plan on giving my athletic career my full attention with the hope of becoming a professional athlete and Olympian,” Millington disclosed.
For now, the Stockport Harrier has a few indoor races pencilled in his diary as he strives to qualify for the World Indoor Championships in March, before opening up what will hopefully be a prosperous outdoor season.
With a final word on his time in America, the 24-year-old said: “I would definitely recommend my time out in Albuquerque or another NCAA institution to any young athlete.
“I think the chance to get a university degree paid for, a great training environment, facilities and general life experience away from home are something anybody would gain from.”
