He began running track his sophomore year as a means to stay in shape for soccer in the fall.

That spring Leer ran a 4:16.41 1600, setting the Minnetonka High School record previously held by his coach.

In Leer's senior year he finished 7th at cross country nationals with a time of 27:03 on a very slow and muddy course.

Leer finished 10th in the 1500 meter event at the 2007 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championship meet.

[citation needed] In January 2008, Leer ran a 3:59.83 mile at the UW Indoor Preview[7] for The Oregon Track Club Elite.

In the winter of 2008, Leer finished fourth in the 1500 meter event at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

[8] At historic Hayward Field, the home track of the OTC-Elite, Leer advanced to the final for the 1500 meter event at the U.S. Olympic Trials by finishing third in his semifinal heat.

Outdoor Championships[12][failed verification][citation needed] in June, then set a 1500m personal best of 3:37.37 at the Ghent Flanders Cup[13] in July.

A week later, he ran the 1600m anchor leg for the Oregon Track Club team that set[15] In May he lowered his 1500m personal best to 3:37.26,[16] finishing third at the USATF High Performance Meet at Occidental College, California.