Austin’s Ryan Synoground jumps in the high jump Thursday during a dual against Albert Lea. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin senior Andrew Baker proved he’s more than just a distance runner as the Packer boys track and field team topped Albert Lea 89-48 in a season opening dual at Larry Gilbertson Track and Field Thursday.

Austin’s Andrew Baker runs beside Albert Lea’s Jackson Goodell during the 1600 meter run Thursday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

The Austin girls lost their dual to Albert Lea 69-68.

Baker not only notched victories in the 800-meter run and the 1600-meter run for the boys, but he also showed a blaze of speed to boost the Packer 4 x 400-meter relay team to a win. Baker took the baton while trailing by about 10 meters and he had the Packers ahead by about 10-meters when he handed off to Connor Sheehan, who closed out the race strong.

“It wasn’t easy, but when the guy is 10 meters ahead of you there’s a little more motivation to catch him,” Baker said. “I like running the 400 and I like being able to sprint. I’m more of a distance runner, but I think this year I might run more mid-distance.”

Austin sophomore Zach Coffey made a big impact in the 4 x 400-meter relay for the Packers and he also won the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.16 seconds.

“It was good to see where I’m at,” Coffey said. “That’s a good time to start out with in the 400, but I want to shed some seconds off of it.”

Austin senior Andrew Hagan won the shot put and discus.

Austin junior Kendall Hackensmith had a big day for the Packer girls. She took first in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of of 49.39 seconds and she took second in the 100-meter hurdles after struggling with one of the hurdles early in the race. She also put up a personal best distance while taking third in the long jump.

Hackensmith’s time in the 300-hurdles was almost a personal best and she’s hoping to shave at least three seconds off that time this year, which would be a new AHS record.

Kendall Hackensmith clears the final hurdle during the first heat of the 100-meter hurdles Thursday in a dual against Albert Lea. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

“That was my first time running the full race [in the 300] and the time really surprised me. I was really happy with it,” Hackensmith said. “My goal is to beat the school record and go to state this year.”

Austin junior Carolyn Hackel took first in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and the long jump. She was happy just to get the track and field season underway.

“I was pretty nervous for this meet. I was in the blocks just shaking,” Hackel said. “It’s such a relief to get the first one out of the way. It didn’t go as well as I hoped it would, but it didn’t go bad.”

AUSTIN BOYS RESULTS

4 x 800-meter relay: Jacob Striker, Joseph Kroymann, Micah Kelly, Deyvid Lopez (first, 9:15.48); 110-meter hurdles: Adam Bergstrom (second, 16.45); 100-meter dash: Jon Gallagher (first, 11.60); Tyler Olson (third, 12.10); 4 x 200-meter relay: Devin Klapperick, Gabe Gerstner, Connor Sheehan, Zach Coffey (first, 1:36.26); 1600-meter run: Andrew Baker (first, 4:39.34); 4 x 100-meter relay: Devin Klapperick, Gabe Gerstner, Tyler Olson, Jon Gallagher (first, 46.35); 400-meter dash: Zach Coffey (first, 55.16); Alec Estrada (third, 57.82); 300-meter hurdles: Clark Munger (second, 45.33); 800-meter run: Andrew Baker (first, 2:05.03); Micah Kelly (third, 2:17.29); 200-meter dash: Connor Sheehan (first, 23.86); Gabe Gerstner (second, 23.94); Jon Gallagher (third, 24.08); 3200-meter run: Mitch Mayer (third, 11:41.56); 4 x 400-meter relay: Connor Sheehan, Alec Estrada, Andrew Baker, Zach Coffey (first, 3:41.04); long jump: Adam Bergstrom (second, 18-8.25); triple jump: Trent Brown (third, 34-9); high jump: Ryan Synoground (first, 5-8); Zach Coffey (second, 5-8); shot put: Andrew Hagan (first, 50-8); Diego Soto (second, 40-8); discus: Andrew Hagan (first, 127-9); Luke May (second, 119-4); Diego Soto (third, 105-3)

AUSTIN GIRLS RESULTS

100-meter hurdles: Rachel Quandt (first, 17.13); Kendall Hackensmith (second, 17.36); 100-meter dash: Carolyn Hackel (first, 13.16); 1600-meter run: Morgan Hose (second, 6:10.70); 400-meter dash: Jessica White (second, 1:02.05); 300-meter hurdles: Kendall Hackensmith (first, 49.39); 800-meter run: Madison Overby (first,

Austin sprinter Carolyn Hackel cruises to the win in her heat of the 100-meter dash against Albert Lea Thursday. Hackel, along with all of the area spring teams, is featured in the upcoming spring edition of JumpStart out today. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

2:34.56); Morgan Hose (third, 2:47.76); 200-meter dash: Carolyn Hackel (first, 27.84); Miranda Bergman (third, 29.22); 3200-meter run: Paiton Schwab (first, 12:04.03); Abby Lewis (second, 12:05.22); long jump: Carolyn Hackel (first, 16-0.5); Kendall Hackensmith (third, 14-7.25); triple jump: Paige Raymond (second, 28-10); high jump: Rachel Quandt (second, 4-6); shot put: Amber Hansen (first, 31-8.5); discus: Amber Hansen (third, 79-5)