It was a family tradition, attending college in Laie. Lacey Johnson Krout followed in the footsteps of her three older sisters — Dixie, SunDee and Penny — but Lacey was the only one to put on running shoes and compete for Brigham Young-Hawaii.

“My sisters loved it here,” the 21-year-old cross country runner said. “I was looking at going to Utah State or Brigham Young-Provo, but BYU-Hawaii was the only one to offer a scholarship.

“It was not hard to make the decision to come. It is the perfect running weather almost every day. I’ve had a lot of fantastic runs on the beach.”

Krout ran track and played volleyball and basketball at Preston (Idaho) High. At the suggestion of her track coach — who also coached cross country — she added a fourth sport her senior year.

“It was something new for me; I had never done distance,” said Krout. “I enjoyed it, especially the scenary, instead of just running around a loop.”

The business management major took in the sights, as well as first place, when leading the Seasiders to the team title at their own invitational on Sept. 24. She finished the 5K course in 18 minutes and 45 seconds, just 17 seconds off her personal best.

Next up is Saturday’s Hawaii-Hilo Invitational on the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort Golf and Country Club.

It is Krout’s favorite course out of those she’s run in Hawaii; she was second overall last year over the 6K course, the top BYUH finisher.

The Seasiders are the three-time defending PacWest champions and Krout is hoping for a four-peat before she graduates in December.

“With the new schools in the conference, we have even more competition,” she said. “But our team is very strong, too, and it’s good that we’re getting pushed.”

Krout said she has two things in mind after graduation: starting a family with husband Brandon, a former BYUH cross country runner she met in school, and completing a marathon.

She said she would have liked to do the Honolulu Marathon, but because it is held on Sunday, she would defer because of her faith. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints discourages competition on Sundays).

“I’m just looking forward to the rest of the season and see how far we can go,” she said.