Alex Routh was not one to be left behind.

Even if it may not have been in the Royal High distance runner's best interest.

"Through the four years that I had him," said Royal coach Ryan Luce, "the one thing that is a common thread is that he put himself up in the front.

"Even as a freshman, he wanted to hang with our top runners on our runs."

Pushing himself to be one of the best distance runners in Southern California, Routh produced a series of quality races over a three-month stretch to become The Star's Boys' Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Routh is the latest of Royal's long line of outstanding road racers.

In Routh's freshman and sophomore years, Royal won CIF Division I state and section titles. The Highlanders placed second at the 2006 Division II behind Michael Cybulski's individual championship.

With most of that talent graduated, it was up to Routh to take the leadership role, said Luce.

"In the transition of being with the great teams in the past," said Luce, "he did a great job. Alex became his own person."

Routh was sixth at the Clovis Invitational, ninth in the muddy Pepperdine Invitational and 18th at the Woodbridge Invitational.

One of the Division I state favorites, the Marmonte League champion had the 14th fastest overall time (15 minutes, 10 seconds) at the CIF section finals at Mount San Antonio College, but missed qualifying for state by one spot after finishing 10th in his race.

"Alex is the fourth fastest Royal runner on that course," said Luce. "The only two under 15 minutes were Michael (Cybulski) and Hudson (Andrews)."

That's fast company. Cybulski was a three-time state champion; Andrews won the 2007 state 1,600-meter title.

Researching Division I section finals over the last five years, Luce found that, in all cases, Routh's time would have placed him no worse than fourth.

Except in one case, where he was left behind.

"It was depressing that I didn't make it to state," said Routh. "I wanted to do the best for myself and the team. It was a good race, but it could have been better. It was just a fast race and I got a little unlucky."

Routh has a tendency of testing himself against better runners in the early stages of races.

"Some of those races went out too fast," said Luce. "He would be a better caliber runner if he went out a little more conservatively that first mile and use his strength in the last two miles."

Running has been a big part of Routh's life for the last eight years.

Even though Royal was deep in talent for Routh's freshman season, he didn't back away from working for a place on the varsity.

"You keep training hard every day and you get better," said Routh. "It gives you more confidence."

Working out with the likes of Cybulski, Andrews, Dylan Jaedtke, Kevin Sullivan and Jun Reichl rubbed off.

"You learn how to be a stronger runner and mentally stronger," said Routh. "It gives you something to aspire to."

Throughout his career, Routh has made a concerted effort to increase his training mileage and run at a faster pace.

Coming into the 2008 track season, Routh will bring a personal best of 9:18 for the 3,200-meter run.

"I want to be close to nine flat," he said.

While the 3,200 may be Routh's best race in high school, Luce sees better days ahead for him as a collegiate runner.

"Two miles is still on the shortside for Alex," said Luce. "I think his best race will be the 10K. I think he can eat that up in college."

All-county boys' first team

Name School Class

Alex Routh Royal Senior

Travis Edwards Royal Senior

Jose Alcantar Hueneme Senior

Sean Gildea Thousand Oaks Junior

James Goldstein Oak Park Sophomore

Garrison Gourdeau Oak Park Senior

Charlie Petrie Oaks Christian Junior

All-county boys' second team

Name School Class

Otto Cipolla Royal Senior

Kevin Joerger Thousand Oaks Sophomore

Joseph Finley Nordhoff Senior

Daniel Simmons Ventura Junior

Michael Barnes Ventura Senior

Isidore Herrera Buena Senior

Clayton Graham Calabasas Senior