Seniors often set a goal to place at the district or state meet.

Then there is Christian Rotter.

The Auburn Mountainview senior, who has run at state three times, has a loftier goal this season.

“I really want to get to Border Clash, which is the top 15 in state,” said Rotter, who was referring to the annual showcase of the top high school runners in Washington and Oregon at the 4,387-meter course at the Nike World Headquarters Campus in Beaverton, Ore. “I need to get there this year.”

Rotter thought that was an attainable goal as an underclassman. He came up a spot short when he finished 16th in 15minutes, 50.81 seconds at the Class 3A state meet in 2013. But Rotter followed that up with a 16:12.46 effort to finish 26that state last year.

A number of runners achieved personal-best times at state, and Rotter battled his own health issues.

“I had a cold and was sick the whole week leading up to it,” Rotter said. “I don’t think I was at my peak performance.”

Rotter is hopeful that health will not be an issue this year. But he knows the competition will remain stiff.

“This year’s definitely going to be a challenge because there are a lot more guys running really well.”

Rotter will need to reduce his top time of the season, which was 16:03 during a regular-season meet Sept. 30, to qualify forBorder Clash. His coach, Tim Tubbs, believes Rotter’s goal is achievable.

“It certainly is realistic,” he said. “He has a gear that I’ve seen on occasion that is shocking. Not shocking anymore, but surprising. He’s very competitive.”

In addition to last year’s performance at state, Rotter said he derives motivation from knowing his time as a competitive runner almost is over. Rotter, who maintains a 4.0 grade-point average and balances a course loaded that includes threeAdvanced Placement classes, has committed to play soccer at Western Washington University.

Rotter, who parents for getting him involved with sports, said he plans to play soccer this spring for the Lions. He still enjoys running, but wants to follow in his mother Stephanie’s path of competing in half- and full-marathons.

“It got to the point where I think running now is just a hobby for me,” Rotter said. “I love it, but I want to do what my mom does. I want to run half-marathons and go biking sometimes on my own. I don’t want to get into the competitive level of it.”

Regardless of Rotter’s route, he will have an admirer in Tubbs.

“Christian is an outstanding person,” said Tubbs, who noted that he was taught by Rotter’s grandfather in junior high.“Everywhere we go the opponents comment about how great he is. He takes the time – win or lose – to congratulate the opponents and go to the coach and say thanks. It’s a true, genuine attitude he has.”

One that Rotter eventually hopes to use to help others throughout the world. Last year, he was asked to write a paper on a“controversial topic” for his Advanced Placement Language class. Rotter produced a five-page essay on whether the UnitedStates should provide educational and athletic facilities to third-world countries.

“We’re so fortunate to have what we have in the U.S.,” Rotter said. “There are so many people who don’t have those benefits.”

Rotter said researching that topic helped him decide that he wants to join an organization to aid people in third-world countries after he graduates from WWU.

“I do think it’s important to help out others,” he said. “You can’t just always look at yourself.”

But those are long-range goals. For now, Rotter realizes he just has little time to reach the top-15 benchmark he set as a freshman.

“I kind of let it get away from me last year,” he said. “I definitely want to get back up there.”