About Us
Making Champions Of Others
Coach Larry Weber
For Larry Weber, running has always been more than a sport. It has been a way to shape character, strengthen faith, and teach lessons that last long after the final race. He came to high school coaching later in life, after guiding post-collegiate athletes, U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifiers, and world-class master’s runners.
Over the past 15 seasons, his teams have earned 13 Washington State Cross-Country Championships—nine girls’ and four boys’—and posted 26 podium finishes, including seven runner-up trophies, qualifying for state every year. His athletes have excelled academically, capturing three cross-country academic state titles. Weber credits these achievements to the dedication of his athletes, the support of their families, and the partnership of his assistant coaches.
He has coached five individual high school cross-country state champions—Justin Holden, Lucas Graham, Luke Schilter, Ruby Henry, and Kevin Hu (2025). Schilter was a three-time state runner-up, finishing just behind future Olympic steeplechase silver medalist Kenneth Rooks. Recognized multiple times as a Washington State Cross-Country Coach of the Year, Weber was named Co–Girls High School State Cross-Country Coach of the Decade by The Runner.
Weber’s coaching impact extends beyond high school. He has guided elite athletes in the U.S., helping several qualify for the USA Olympic Marathon Trials. Under his mentorship, Tony Volpentest—world’s fastest Paralympian—won two gold medals and set a world record in the 200 meters at the ISOD World Championships in Barcelona. He helped Karen Steen reach two Olympic Marathon Trials, earn multiple national master’s titles, and set two steeplechase master’s world records. He also coached NCAA 800-meter champion Edward Kemboi as a post-collegiate athlete and supported other elite 800-meter runners remotely in Kenya.
Weber is a dedicated member of the running community who co-founded the Millersylvania–Bill Kehoe Cross-Country Invitational and served as its manager for 17 years. He serves as the historian for Thurston County's running, track, and field programs.
As an athlete, Weber competed in the USA Championships in the 1500 meters, was a two-time Big Sky Conference champion and 800-meter record holder and holds the fastest high school 800-meter time in Thurston County history as a state champion. He won and set the record in the Original Ultimate Runner Competition—racing a 10K, 400 meters, 100 meters, the mile, and a marathon in one day—against a world-class field, honoring running’s most versatile competitor. He ran a 4:00.10 mile on the track, narrowly missing a sub-four, and later broke four minutes on a certified fast road-mile course.
Through every season, Coach Weber’s goal has remained the same: to help people discover their God-given potential, embrace hard work, and carry the lessons of running into life. He credits his wife, Julie, for her unwavering support and for nurturing the meaningful connections with the athletes they have been privileged to guide.
Some memories of his career thus far are below.
The Pope John Paul II girls after winning one of their state cross country championships.
Northwest Christian High School boys celebrate after winning the 2016 State Cross-Country Championships and setting a state cumulative time record for their classification.
Pope John Paul II, after winning the 2025 boys state cross-country championship.
Our daughter, Elizabeth, had the honor of being the captain of the Northwest Christian team that set a state record for the most consecutive state championships among all classifications for girls' teams. The girls went on to win nine consecutive championships. My friend Bill Kehoe was the head coach for the first four titles, and after his retirement, I had the privilege of serving as head coach for an additional five consecutive state championships. Elizabeth is holding the state championship trophy on top of the podium.
The Washington Cross-Country Coaches Association awarded us this certificate after setting the all-time state record for most consecutive state championships for girls.
Two-time NCAA 800-Meter Champion Edward Kemboi is pictured leading an 800-meter race. I later coached Edward as a post collegiate athlete remotely in Kenya along with a small group of Kenyan 800-meter runners. It was an experience of a lifetime getting to know and understand the Kenyan culture. Learn more about our journey with Kenyan athletes here: Edward Kemboi And Morgan Shadrack Run With Purpose.
My lifelong friend Bryan Hoddle coached Tony to two gold medals and a world record in the 100 meters in the Paralympic Games. When Bryan moved to other pursuits, I coached Tony to two gold medals and a world record in the 200 meters in the Paralympic World Track and Field Championships held in Barcelona. I also set up events around the nation to highlight the amazing performances of Paralympic athletes. You can read more about our journey here: Our Journey With World Class Paralympic Track And Field Athletes.
From left to right: Tony Volpentest, the fastest Paralympian of his time; Ross Perot, a sponsor of Tony and a USA presidential candidate; Bryan Hoddle, the USA Track and Field Paralympic coach in Greece; and Larry Weber. The long version of our story is here: Celebrating The 25th Anniversary Of Tony Volpentest’s Gold Medals.
Ross Perot and Larry Weber speaking to the press at the 1996 Paralympic Track and Field Championships.
Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier and Master's world record holder Karen Steen who I coached for many years. Karen also won the local Capital City Marathon many times. Meet Karen and a couple of other trials qualifiers from our area here: Thurston County Olympic Trials History
The original Ultimate Runner Competition was the hardest race of my life. You can read the story here: The Original Ultimate Runner Competition
These are the 1983 World and USA bests in the mile as listed in Track and Field News. I was blessed to make the rankings in my initial year of moving up to the 1500 meters and mile. My only career regret is not focusing on the 1500/mile sooner.
This document was published about 12 years ago by a state track and field record keeper and is no longer current. Many more Washington born runners have run sub-four. However, at the time I was just ahead of Gerry Lindgren, and some former University of Washington Runners on the all-time mile list. Racing in 1983 was long before super shoes. I had moved up to the mile and 1500 meters at the twilight of my career. In retrospect, it probably would have been my best event along with the steeplechase. I am glad I had the opportunity though to give it a try.
I had a tough heat at the 1983 USA (called the TAC back then) championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. Olympians Steve Scott, and Steve Lacy were in my heat along with Olympic 1500-meter alternate Chuck Aragon. Tom Smith a 3:55 miler and friend was also in my heat along with 3:52 miler Craig Masback. Scott won the silver medal in the 1500 meters at the world championships that year and was also the American record holder in the mile for many years. Masback went onto become the CEO of USA Track and Field. I did not make the final that year but it was great to be in the same heat with some running legends at the time.
Dr. Jack Daniels and his wife Nancy became friends of mine after I attended several of his workshops. I was fortunate to conduct the last comprehensive interview with them before Jack’s passing in 2025. I had promised Jack, I’d bring him to Olympia, Washington to speak someday, and it finally happened in 2024, when at age 91 he joined as a guest speaker on a panel I led celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first USA Marathon Trials for women. You can read the story about Jack and Nancy here.: The Backstory About The World's Best Running Coach