Baker wins 800-meter and 1600-meter runs as Packer boys take sixth at Big 9 meet
Published 11:14 pm Friday, May 23, 2014
Austin’s Andrew Hagan makes his first throw during the shotput prelims Friday during the Big Nine Meet in Austin. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin boys finished in sixth place as senior Andrew Baker won a pair of Big Nine titles at the Big Nine track and field meet in Larry Gilbertson track and field Friday.
Austin’s Adam Bergstrom clears the final hurdle on the way to winning his heat in the 110 high hurdles at the Big Nine Track Meet Friday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Baker won the 1600-meter run by .44 of a second over Jake Houghton of Rochester John Marshall and he won the 800-meter run by a slim margin as well.
Baker has had success in both races all season long, so he was hoping to win both races on Friday, but it wasn’t a sure thing going in.
“I was definitely thinking about it,” Baker said. “I knew I had a pretty good shot and it was just about actually doing it.”
Baker ran in the state cross country meet in the fall, but he’s spent much of the spring working on accelerating. He’s been able to succeed in the 800 and 1600 by finishing strong down the stretch.
“I think I’m in a really good spot right now. I’d like to see my times come down a little bit more,” Baker said. “The section meet will be a different group of guys, but this gives me bit of confidence.”
Austin’s Andrew Hagan took third in the shot put and fourth in the discus, Adam Bergstrom was second in the 300-meter hurdles and sixth in the 110-meter hurdles and Connor Sheehan was third in the 400-meter run.
AUSTIN RESULTS
4 x 800-meter relay: Joe Kroymann, Ben Walker, Jacob Striker, Quin Brunner (sixth, 8:36.19); Adam Bergstrom (sixth, 16.40); 4 x 200-meter relay: Devin Klapperick, Gabe Gerstner, Tyler Olson, Connor Sheehan (third, 1:33.91); 1600-meter run: Andrew Baker (first, 4:27.66); Connor Sheehan (third, 52.94); 300-meter hurdles: Adam Bergstrom (second, 41.39); 800-meter run: Andrew Baker (first, 2:01.57); 200-meter dash: Gabe Gerstner (sixth, 23.90); 4 x 400-meter relay: Connor Sheehan, Zach Coffey, Alec Estrada, Andrew Baker (third, 3:31.99); shot put: Andrew Hagan (third, 54-1.50); disucs: Andrew Hagan (fourth, 133-5); Luke May (fifth, 126-7); long jump: Adam Bergstrom (10th, 19-5.75); pole vault: Ian Christopherson (10th, 10-8); Aiden Wilson (10th, 10-8)
Team results: 1. Mankato East, 247; 2. Owatonna, 230; 3. Mankato West, 209; 4. Rochester Century, 176; 5. Rochester John Marshall, 143; 6. Austin, 142; 7. Winona, 116; 8. Rochester Mayo, 81; 9. Faribault, 63; 10. Albert Lea, 51
