Catch him if you can.

He’s already left his mark on the track and cross country programs at Waterloo High School, and now Lance Mueller is hoping for similar success at Saint Louis University.

Mueller, a senior, signed a letter of intent last week to run track and cross country at SLU. The son of Lori and Ed Mueller, Lance is very familiar with the university since his mother is employed there.

The Billikens are getting  one of the top runners in the area in Mueller.

He currently holds the school record in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:23.89.  Mueller also has a top 3,200-meter run time of 9:40. He is part of this year’s school record in the 4×800 relay as well with a time of 8:10.96. Other members of the relay team are senior Cole Rodenberg, sophomore Jake Schwartz and junior Blake Rusteberg.

“So far this track season, Lance has gotten firsts in the 1,600 in Freeburg, the 3,200 in Highland, and the 4×800 in Columbia,” Waterloo head track coach Larry Huffman said. “Lance currently has one of the fastest 1,600 times in Class AA with his second place time of 4:26 at the Granite City Invitational last Friday.”

Mueller’s track success this spring is just icing on the cake for his senior year, which was already filled with impressive efforts this past fall in cross country.

Mueller was named all-state following his 14th place finish in a school record time of 14:57 for three miles at the IHSA Class 2A state cross country meet.

Mueller also won the regional cross country meet and placed second at the sectional meet. He also won the Mississippi Valley Conference meet this season with a time of 16:04.

He was also named Class 2A Runner of the Year in the Belleville News-Democrat.