Baker runs personal best, but misses finals at state meet
Published 1:58 pm Friday, June 6, 2014
St. Paul — Austin senior Andrew Baker did exactly what he wanted to do at the Class AA state track and field preliminaries in Hamline University in St. Paul Friday.
It just wasn’t enough to get to the finals.
Baker beat his personal best time in the 800-meter run by more than two seconds as he finished in 1:57.06. He finished 10th in the prelims and was about a half of a second from making it to the finals.
Austin’s Andrew Baker strides toward the end in the 800-meter run prelims Friday at the Minnesota State Track and Field Meet at Hamline University in St. Paul. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It just felt great,” Baker said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better season. I ran my best and I got a PR. That’s what I really came here to do.”
Baker, who ran in the Class AA state cross country meet this fall, showed once again that he is more than a distance runner. He finished the 800 with the tenacity of a sprinter as he closed the gap between himself and his competitors in the last 200-meters.
Baker said the faster field brought out the best in him.
“It’s a little more humbling and you feel a little more cool headed,” Baker said. “I think it did help. I ran a great race. I had a lot left for that second lap.”