New Trier Athlete to Watch: Leyland Later

New Trier cross country coach Dave Wisner doesn’t need a watch, clock or schedule to know when a race is about to start.

Once he’s at a cross country course, he just needs to look at the ground; that’s where he’ll find Leyland Later with his hands on his shoes.

The Trevians’ top returning runner ties his shoes compulsively before races. He puts on his spikes, strides out and then starts tying them. He walks to the start line and while he’s waiting, ties them and unties them some more. Sometime up to 15 times, Later says.

Earlier:

And while some may consider it among the strangest of pre-race rituals, it’s done well to calm Later’s  nerves. He finished 42nd in last year’s state cross country to help the Trevians to a seventh place finish.

This year, Later is in the conversation for the individual state championship.

“I do think I have a chance to do particularly well, hopefully the top three,” Later said. “Winning it isn’t out of the question but I know that’s a long shot. So I’m still looking forward to racing. Obviously, as a team, improving on last year’s finish. A trophy would be nice [for the top three at the state meet].”

And during summer workouts Later—a team captain—and the Trevians have no reason to think otherwise.

After a 2010 cross country season that was bereft of good racing conditions, according to Later, the Trevians were afforded the opportunity to run good times at last year’s state meet.

Though the team fell short of expectations, Later turned in a personal best, breaking 15 minutes. He parlayed his successes in cross country into an even better season on the track. Later finished fourth in state in the 1,600 meters, solidifying his status as one of Illinois’ elite distance runners heading into the scholastic year.

“It’s [the individual cross country state title] wide open this year,” Wisner said. “You’ve just got to be there with 100 or 200 meters to go and it’s anybody’s race. And he’s got the speed, he’s developing the strength to win it. Now that doesn’t mean he’s going to but he’s certainly put himself to be in a position to win the state championship.”

Later is tall, lanky with a superior leg kick.

In a state meet situation with some 220 runners, it will be vital for Later to get to the front of the pack in the first half mile.

And with 10 to 12 runners in the mix for the state title, if Later is at the front with 200 meters to go, he has as good a shot as any according to Wisner. One second can separate as many as five places in the state meet.

“He just has these really long strides,” fellow team captain and senior Eric Underwood said. “It’s just really funny because always, at the end of 200 meters, he has this weird arm thing where he starts pumping his arms really quickly and that’s when he opens his speed.”

A good senior season should give Later his choice of elite collegiate distance programs.

Later has already spoken with University of Pennsylvania, Columbia and University of Michigan. A successful cross country season could draw interest from powerhouse Stanford.

“I’d like to try to leverage my running ability to get into a university I might otherwise not get into,” Later said.

Later is a good student, something that will only further impress collegiate distance coaches. But if he feels he might get nervous when he goes to speak with collegiate coaches, well, he just might want to wear Velcro shoes.