Will Leer

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Will Leer is an elite American mid-distance runner. He graduated from Pomona College in Claremont, California in May, 2007.

Will and the 2007 USATF track and field championships
Will and the 2007 USATF track and field championships

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[edit] High School Career

Will Leer ran track and played soccer Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota. He was coached by Jeff Renlund. He began running track his sophomore year as a means to stay in shape for soccer in the fall. He quickly found success as a runner, however he did not make the switch to cross country until his senior year where coach Renlund convinced him to run in a few races for the Minnetonka cross country team. In the 2002 section 6AA championships, Will finished 11th, missing state qualification by one place. That spring Will ran a 4:16.41 1600[1], setting the Minnetonka High School record previously held by his coach. Will's 1600 time was the 4th fastest time of the year in Minnesota. He also ran a 1:54.64 800, the 5th fastest time in Minnesota. At the state meet he opted to run on the 4x800 team instead of the 1600. He also competed in the open 800, finishing fourth in 1:55.25. His team's 4x800 relay team ran 7:58.87 and finished eighth in a deep field which included nine sub-8:00 times.

[edit] College career

Will at the 2006 NCAA D-III cross country championships
Will at the 2006 NCAA D-III cross country championships

Will had a very successful college career running for Pomona College in Claremont, California. In his Junior year he finished 90th at cross country nationals with a time of 27:10[2]. After a disappointing performance at cross country nationals, Will won the NCAA Division-III indoor national title in the mile with a time of 4:09.42[3]. At outdoor nationals, he placed second in the 1500 behind Nick Symmonds with a time of 3:49.70. He also competed in the 800, finishing eighth with a time of 1:52.82.[4] In Will's senior year he finished 7th at cross country nationals with a time of 27:03 on a very slow and muddy course. [5] During the indoor season, Will repeated as national champion in the mile with a time of 4:08.19. Later in the meet he came back in the 5000, finishing third with a time of 14:34.24.[6] During his 2007 outdoor season, Will ran a 1:50.79 in the 800, 3:41.98 in the 1500, and a 14:23 in the 5000. All of his times put him in the top three of DIII performances.[7] Will's 1500 performance was perhaps the best run of his collegiate career; his 1500 time of 3:41.98 converts to a 3:59 full mile. At the 2007 Division III National Championships, Will won the 1500 and the 5000 on the same day.[8] He is the only male Division III runner ever to win both titles in the same meet.

[edit] Post-Collegiate

Will finished 10th in the 1500 meter event at the 2007 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championship meet.[9] He advanced to the June 24th final by running a personal best 3:40.06 in a preliminary heat[10]. He qualified for the event by running 3:41.13 at the Prefontaine Classic in June, 2007[11]. He also ran a 1:49.37 800m at the USA Outdoor Track & Field West Region Championship meet[12], and a 3:59.83 mile at the UW Indoor Preview in January, 2008[13] for The Oregon Track Club. Will is the 297th American to break 4-minutes in the mile.

[edit] Personal Records

  • 800 m - 1:47.69
  • 1500 m - 3:38.11, 3:41.93i
  • Mile - 3:58.16, 3:59.83i
  • 5000 m - 14:23.28
  • 8 km XC - 24:14.1

[edit] See also

[edit] External links