Garry: Lauer leads his Lincoln pack one more time

STURGIS –

When you're an elite high school runner like Will Lauer, the state track meet during a senior season can sometimes be more of a ceremonial demonstration of superiority than an adrenaline-fired competition.

There usually is a whole bunch of been-there-done-that going on when his kind run past everyone for the last time in a high school uniform.

But when Lauer, a Stanford recruit and one of the best high school runners in the nation, surprised no one by posting a dominating win in the Class AA boys 3,200 on Friday at Woodle Field, he was enjoying his first day in four years as a competitor at a state meet.

"It wasn't the time or anything like that, it was just great to be back here running at a state meet," said Lauer, whose clocking of 8:58.49 set a Class AA meet record. "This is one of my favorite tracks in the state and I was really happy to make it for this one. This year nothing came up."

What he meant to say is that nothing resembling a stress fracture magically appeared at the wrong time. He cooled it a little bit on his training to increase the chance he was going to be able to do the eight laps, and if this is what happens when you cut back on training, then that was probably a pretty good idea.

The race itself was short on racing. He took the lead, he extended the lead, he set a meet record. He was quick to acknowledge his teammates at the finish line as well as his opponents. Pretty smooth and pretty typical according to those who have watched him — usually from a distance after a few laps — during his high school career.

"He's a nice guy on the track and off the track," said Jesus Urtusuastegui, a Roosevelt senior who finished third in the race behind Lauer's teammate Nathan Schroeder. "Just a real good person, you can tell. Always very willing to talk to the rest of us. What's not to like?"

Urtusuastegui credits Lauer with helping him set a personal record at the Metro Conference meet, bringing him along for the ride and anyone else who wanted to get in on an accelerated pace.

"He pushes people, he inspires people, Urtusuastegui said, speaking for a core group of boys distance runners in Sioux Falls. "He sets the bar for everyone because he's good, but he really wants everyone to run better."

Lauer began running in seventh grade because some of his friends were doing it, and by eighth grade he was becoming aware that he had a gift for it. The same could be said for several pals who would go on to become his high school teammates.

With a senior group led by Lauer but including runners such as Anders Rasmussen, Schroeder, and Dreaux Selzler, the Patriots won three consecutive cross country titles for coach Eric Pooley and were also big contributors to last spring's state track title.

"It's not often you get a group of kids who just dedicate themselves to running, and running long distances," said Lincoln coach Jim Jarovski. "We've been lucky to have them and we're going to miss them."

Lauer talked after the race in a consistent half-chuckle. He seemed to be amused by how his commitment was working out for him to a much greater degree than he was impressed by it.

That's been the way from the start. From seventh grade to eighth grade he cut his mile time by 38 seconds, to 5:02, and began training outside of practice with some of his teammates.

"Nate (Schroeder) and I were up there in every race," he said. "That's when I started getting more competitive with it."

A year ago when the Patriots stood on the award stand Lauer was with them, but it felt a little strange. What was he getting an award for? He didn't do anything.

"I'm really hoping what we did in the 3,200 helps us win the team title," he said. "Last year it was kind of a bummer to not really be able to contribute to that. I couldn't really enjoy it because I didn't feel like I'd done anything to help."

That sense of accomplishment returned on Friday, though, accompanied the laughing. This year he did something worthwhile to help the cause.

While the injuries have been frustrating, there were never any signs that Lauer was less interested in trying to do the kinds of things he's done this school year, with an individual state cross country title to go with that 3,200 medal. And off the track, there has never been any let-up on an appetite for achievement.

"I'm his teacher for AP chemistry," Jarovski said. "I'm fortunate that I've gotten to know him on the track but also in the classroom. As good an athlete as he is on the track — and I know this sounds like sort of a line — but he's even better as a person. He's quiet, he's hardworking, he's humble. Think of an ideal kid who does everything right — that's Will."