For many runners, the road to cross country success in high school can literally be full of hills and valleys, rough terrain and feet of blisters.
For Becker senior Luke Lahr, the road to state is suddenly like a newly-paved road.
“I am more excited than anything for the state meet,” said Luke. “I was extremely nervous for sections, but as for the state meet, there's not another race to advance to after that race so it's pretty much go out there and race to the best of my ability.”
Last week, Lahr finished in seventh place at the Section 8AA cross country meet in Alexandria. He made state as the top two teams qualify and the next eight runners not on those two teams qualify also.
The state meet is at St. Olaf in Northfield and Lahr will be competing against runners from all over the state including Chaska, Stillwater, Elk River, Rochester, Wayzata, White Bear Lake, Hopkins and Bemidji, to name a few. Lahr’s bib # will be 571 and he will commence from lane six.
Lahr’s best 5,000 meters is 16:28.00 and he hopes to surpass that in his last race of his high school career. He’ll be running against the top racers from across the state so he is realistic about his chances and where he’ll probably finish.
“I'd like to achieve a new personal record which means coming in under 16:28,” he said. “It's hard to say where that would place me as it's a huge race with all the best runners in the state but I'm hoping to place in the top 50.”
Lahr says he believes a finish in the top 50 is realistic based on how he has performed throughout the season and where he’s placed in the larger races he has competed in.
All his running career, Luke has “gone the extra mile” to help his team’s success and his own. And going that extra mile is not just something he does when he dons his running shoes, he’s also a go-getter at home.
“Luke has always been the kid who likes to do well, both athletic-wise and academically,” says his mom, Tammy. “He also is a kid who is helpful, thoughtful and goes the extra mile without ever being asked, especially at home and he can always be counted on to do what he says he's going to.”
Luke’s mom says his qualities and attributes would be that he is always a hard-worker.
“Whatever it is that he's doing, he has integrity, is always empathetic, takes the initiative in doing things, has a positive attitude and is an all-around great person,” says Tammy.
Luke says he’s been a spectator at the state meet in the past and has seen the course he’ll be running Saturday. Though he hasn’t run the course, he’s scouted it out and is looking forward to taking on the challenge.
“I have been a spectator at the state meet before so I have seen the course but have not run on it,” he says. “It has a few hills with one really steep one around 150 yards prior to the finish, which will be tough given it’s right near the end of the race.”
Lahr says the course is considered a moderately hard course so he is expecting it to be a bit tough.
“My quick start is the best part of my racing strategy,” he says. “I'm hoping this serves me well on Saturday as it's going to be an extremely fast and crowded start and it'll be important to get out quick so I don’t get boxed in by other runners.”
Lahr is the first boys’ cross country runner to make state since Nick Jaminick did back in the early 2000’s. Luke credits his coaches, Trish Reimer-Kealy, Dustin Weege and Jon Tweten for getting him ready to compete at each and every meet.
“I give them (coaches) the majority of the credit (for my accomplishments) as they get me ready for the season from early August on to compete at a high level and peak at the right time,” Lahr said. “They give me a summer running program which I always do so that I can come into the season with a good base of miles.”
Lahr says without having a summer program and running base, it is virtually impossible to do well during the season due to the hard workouts and miles required as well as racing once or twice per week.
“All my coaches will be there (at state meet) as well my family and some of my teammates,” says Lahr. “Having that support encourages me to try and reach my goals and expectations as well as represent them well.”
Though this is Luke’s last race at the high school level, he does plan to continue lacing up his Sauconys at a higher level next year and beyond.
“ I do plan on running collegiately both for cross country and track,” he says. “Thus far, I am interested in UMD, Minnesota State at Moorhead and Augustana.”
Luke, who plans to study business and/or engineering in college, is so grateful to the many people who have stood behind him as he’s run the ups and downs of his cross country career.
“"I want to say thanks to my coaches, the school, my teammates, my parents and my teammates' parents for helping me have the successful cross country career I have had at Becker High School,” said Lahr. “It has been an honor to be a Bulldog Cross Country runner.”