When you are from a small town that is not very popular it can be difficult to get your name out there to college coaches but it is possible. 

Ladelle Hazen is from Blue Hill, Nebraska and currently running cross country and track and field at the University of Hartford and majoring in Prosthetics and Orthotics. Blue Hill has a current population of 842 people. 

The cross country and track coach at the time reached out to her after seeing her amazing success throughout her high school career. Ladelle decided to attend the University of Hartford not only because of the opportunity to continue to run but because it is one of the very few schools in the country that offer Prosthetics and Orthotics as a major. Here are some recommendations from Ladelle herself to those who are also in her position that she was in three years ago. 

1. Compete with a travel team 

It is important to get your name out there whether it is through your high school or a club team. Travel teams will travel around the country to specific meets or tournaments and this allows those that live in a smaller town to show off their skills to a bigger audience and maybe a college recruiter.

2. Attend showcases and camps

Attend showcases and camps hosted by colleges so that the coaches get to know who you are. This allows you to show off your abilities and prove to the coach that you should be on the team even if they have never heard of you before this event.

3. Utilize social media 

When you are from a small town, it is important to utilize social media by posting highlights, awards, or new PRs. This allows coaches to see you who might have not even considered looking at athletes from your town. It may even be a good idea to create a separate account that is specialized for recruiting. 

4. Reach out to the coach first

When looking for colleges, it is always important to fill out the recruiting questionnaires and reach out to the coach. However, coaches have a lot of questionnaires coming in, so if you are not on their radar, they might look right past yours. This is why it is important to reach out to the coach first so they get to know who you are and how important being a part of their team is to you.