Coach Lara
GRC Elite Coach
Lara Rogers (fka Lara Crofford), is a distinguished coach in the world of professional and elite running, previously leading the women’s Under Armour Professional Run team in Baltimore. With a career that spans collegiate and professional coaching, Lara has made significant strides in promoting female representation in the coaching ranks.
Early Life and Running Career:
Lara’s journey into running began in high school after she didn’t make the field hockey team she quickly found her passion for running. Lara ended her high school career winning the 2007 Pennsylvania Class AAA 3,200m stitle and captured runner-up honors at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in the 5,000m and sixth in the 2-mile to earn All-American status; which led her to a successful collegiate career at the University of Nebraska and Shippensburg University. During her time as an athlete, she set impressive personal bests and earned multiple accolades, including becoming a 2x-All American and 9x All-Big 12 selection. Upon completion of her collegiate eligibility and while still completing her graduate degree at Shippensburg, Lara coached with Shippensburg, assisting legendary Coach Steve Spence with the team. Shortly after, Lara had the opportunity to run professionally with Saucony and New England Distance in Providence, Rhode Island. After two years of competing for the brand and team, Lara realized her true love and passion in the sport lied in coaching.
Coaching Career:
After her professional career, Lara spent seven years coaching at the University of Cincinnati, where she was recognized as the USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021. Her tenure at Cincinnati was marked by significant achievements, including leading many Bearcat student-athletes to All America honors and conference championships, including leading current professional athletes Aaron Bienenfeld (Nike) and Ellie Leather (Under Armour) to fifth and third place finishes respectively at the NCAA Championships.
Most recently, Lara was the head coach of the Under Armour Mission Run Baltimore Distance team starting in 2022. She was instrumental in building the team from the ground up, starting with just two athletes and expanding to a talented roster of six women. Under her guidance, the team achieved remarkable success, which included Olympic and World championship qualifying marks, Diamond League appearances, national records, and most recently leading Lauren Ryan to the 2024 Paris Olympics in both the 5000m and 10000m.
Personal Life:
Lara’s journey from a high school athlete to a professional runner and now coach is a testament to her passion for running and her commitment to helping others achieve their goals. She continues to inspire and lead by example, proving that with dedication and hard work, anything is possible.
Certifications:
USATF Level I and Level II Endurance
NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy Graduate