Will Leer
Encyclopedia
Will Leer is an elite American mid-distance runner. He graduated from Pomona College
in Claremont, California
in May 2007.
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, Leer finished 11th, missing state qualification by one place. That spring Leer ran a 4:16.41 1600, 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.
Leer 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. After a disappointing performance at cross country nationals, Leer won the NCAA Division-III indoor national title in the mile with a time of 4:09.42. 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. 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. During the indoor season, Leer 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. During his 2007 outdoor season, Leer 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. 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, Leer won the 1500 and the 5000 on the same day. He is the only male Division III runner ever to win both titles in the same meet.
in June 2007. He also ran a 1:49.37 800m at the USA Outdoor Track & Field West Region Championship meet.
In January 2008, Leer ran a 3:59.83 mile at the UW Indoor Preview for The Oregon Track Club Elite. Leer is the 297th American to break 4-minutes in the mile.
In the winter of 2008, Leer finished fourth in the 1500 meter event at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships. At historic Hayward Field
, the home track of the OTC-Elite, Leer advanced to the final for the 1500 meter event at the U.S. Olympic Trials by finishing third in his semifinal heat. In the finals of the Trials Leer ran 3.41.54, placing him 4th, ahead of the current one mile American Record-holder Alan Webb
. A few weeks later he set a 1500m personal record by running 3.37.63 in winning a "B" race at Heusden, Belgium
.
In 2009, Leer set a personal best in the Mile at the Prefontaine Classic and finished fifth at the 1500m U.S.A. Outdoor Championships in June, then set a 1500m personal best of 3:37.37 at the Ghent Flanders Cup in July.
Leer began his 2010 season with a personal-best 3:55.66 mile at the Boston Indoor Games
. A week later, he ran the 1600m anchor leg for the Oregon Track Club team that set an American Indoor best (not a record due to technicalities) in the distance medley relay
, breaking the previous record by 4 seconds. In May he lowered his 1500m personal best to 3:37.26, finishing third at the USATF High Performance Meet at Occidental College
, CA.
Pomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
in Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
in May 2007.
High school career
Will Leer ran track and played soccer Minnetonka High SchoolMinnetonka High School
Minnetonka High School is a public comprehensive high school that is located in Minnetonka, Minnesota, a western suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul. With almost 3,000 students, it is the 3rd largest high school in Minnesota behind neighboring Wayzata and Eden Prarie high schools...
in Minnetonka, Minnesota
Minnetonka, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,301 people, 21,393 households, and 14,097 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,893.0 persons per square mile . There were 22,228 housing units at an average density of 818.9 per square mile...
. 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, Leer finished 11th, missing state qualification by one place. That spring Leer ran a 4:16.41 1600, 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.
College career
Pomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
in Claremont, California. In his Junior year he finished 90th at cross country nationals with a time of 27:10. After a disappointing performance at cross country nationals, Leer won the NCAA Division-III indoor national title in the mile with a time of 4:09.42. At outdoor nationals, he placed second in the 1500 behind Nick Symmonds
Nick Symmonds
Nicholas "Nick" Symmonds is an American middle-distance track athlete from Boise, Idaho, specializing in the 800 meters and 1500 meters distances. He is also the part owner of a tanning salon. In college at Willamette University he won seven NCAA Division III titles in outdoor track. In 2007, he...
with a time of 3:49.70. He also competed in the 800, finishing eighth with a time of 1:52.82. 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. During the indoor season, Leer 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. During his 2007 outdoor season, Leer 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. 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, Leer won the 1500 and the 5000 on the same day. He is the only male Division III runner ever to win both titles in the same meet.
Post-collegiate
Leer finished 10th in the 1500 meter event at the 2007 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championship meet. He advanced to the June 24 final by running a personal best 3:40.06 in a preliminary heat. He qualified for the event by running 3:41.13 at the Prefontaine ClassicPrefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.-History:...
in June 2007. He also ran a 1:49.37 800m at the USA Outdoor Track & Field West Region Championship meet.
In January 2008, Leer ran a 3:59.83 mile at the UW Indoor Preview for The Oregon Track Club Elite. Leer is the 297th American to break 4-minutes in the mile.
In the winter of 2008, Leer finished fourth in the 1500 meter event at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships. At historic Hayward Field
Hayward Field
Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, is one of the best-known historic track and field stadiums in the United States. Nearly a century in age, it was the home of the University of Oregon's football team from 1919 through 1966, and has been the home to the Ducks' track and field teams since 1921...
, the home track of the OTC-Elite, Leer advanced to the final for the 1500 meter event at the U.S. Olympic Trials by finishing third in his semifinal heat. In the finals of the Trials Leer ran 3.41.54, placing him 4th, ahead of the current one mile American Record-holder Alan Webb
Alan Webb (athlete)
Alan Webb is an American athlete. He holds the American record in the mile, with a time of 3:46.91. He competes professionally for Nike.-High school:...
. A few weeks later he set a 1500m personal record by running 3.37.63 in winning a "B" race at Heusden, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
In 2009, Leer set a personal best in the Mile at the Prefontaine Classic and finished fifth at the 1500m U.S.A. Outdoor Championships in June, then set a 1500m personal best of 3:37.37 at the Ghent Flanders Cup in July.
Leer began his 2010 season with a personal-best 3:55.66 mile at the Boston Indoor Games
Boston Indoor Games
The Boston Indoor Games, known as the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix for sponsorship reasons, is an annual indoor track and field meet which is held in late January or early February at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center...
. A week later, he ran the 1600m anchor leg for the Oregon Track Club team that set an American Indoor best (not a record due to technicalities) in the distance medley relay
Distance Medley Relay
The distance medley relay is an athletic event in which four athletes compete as part of a relay. Unlike most track relays, each member of the team runs a different distance. A distance medley relay is made up of a 1200 meter leg, or three laps on a standard 400 meter track; a 400 meter leg, or one...
, breaking the previous record by 4 seconds. In May he lowered his 1500m personal best to 3:37.26, finishing third at the USATF High Performance Meet at Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
, CA.
Personal records
- 800 m – 1:47.69
- 1500 m – 3:37.26, 3:41.93i
- Mile – 3:55.66i, 3:56.63
- 5000 m – 14:23.28
- 8 km XC – 24:14.1
External links
- Video of Will's 1500m personal best of 3:37.37, at Ghent, Belgium, in July 2009
- Eugene Register-Guard: The World Awaits | Will Leer has become a contender in the 1,500 meters
- TrackShark Interviews: Will Leer of Pomona-Pitzer
- Portrait of a National Champion: Leer Reflects on Record-Breaking Mile Run
- Video of 2007 NCAA Division III Mens' 1500 Final
- Video of 2007 NCAA Division III Indoor Mens' Mile Final
- Video of Will's 2007 USATF 1500m Championship heat
- Video of 2007 USATF 1500m Championship final
- Video of 2007 NCAA Division III Indoor Men's Mile Final
- Video of Will's 1500m 2008 personal best of 3:37.63, winning the B race at Heusden, NL, in July 2008
- Interview after winning the 1500m B race at Heusden
- Expressing interest in joining Nick Symmonds at The Oregon Track Club