Track & Field
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Men's Track Team is KIAC Runner-up; Women Take Third
Coach Baker Named Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year
Alec Daily Named Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Year
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Senior Alec Daily was named KIAC Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Year for the third year in a row. |
The Eutectic men's and women's track and field teams came back from the conference meet with some hardware and bragging rights. The teams traveled to Berea, Ky., to compete in the KIAC championships on Saturday, April 21, and brought back the Men's runner-up trophy and the Women's third-place trophy along with nine conference champion medals and 24 all-conference awards. Senior Alec Daily won the KIAC Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Year award for the third year in a row, while head coach David Baker brought home his first KIAC Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year award.
The Eutectics brought 21 men to compete at the meet and compiled 215 points to take second-place behind defending champion Berea College. Daily collected 46 of those points for the Euts to win the Athlete of the Year award, scoring in each of the nine events in which he was entered and winning the 400m (51.10) and high jump (6'.75") competitions. As expected, STLCOP's two outdoor national qualifiers won brought home conference champion hardware. Two-time All-American senior David Baker won his two events, the 800m (2:02.32) and the 1500m (4:11.23), while freshman Brian Pankey won the triple jump (44'8.25"). Pankey, competing in seven events with a sore hamstring, racked up 34 points for the Euts. Freshman Clinton Washington surprised the field by winning the discus throw (120'8") by more than seven feet, while sophomore Tyler Edwards claimed the 400m Hurdles title (1:01.32) narrowly edging out teammate Clayton Maxfield (1:01.34) in an event where the Eutectics took four of the top six places.
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Kamara Cox (right) hands off to Samantha Nguyen (left) in the women's 4 x 100m relay. |
The "Coach of the Year" award traditionally goes to the winning team's coach through a vote of all participating
school's coaches. This year, STLCOP head coach David Baker threw a wrench in that tradition by winning the "KIAC Men's Coach of the Year" award despite his team's second-place finish. For years, the Berea Mountaineers have dominated the meet with numbers and talent. This year, Baker's Eutectics made a run for the title and had the Mountaineers sweating it out until the bitter end. The other coaches recognized that and honored Baker for coaching his small team to the runner-up spot.
Losing eight seniors from the men's team, including Daily and Baker, Coach Baker had mixed emotions about the final meet of the regular season. "The nice thing about this men's team was that just about everybody scored [at the conference meet]," Coach Baker said. "The let down was not that we got second, but that, for all the seniors (except Baker), it's over."
Coach Baker will take Baker and Pankey to compete in the 1500m run and the triple jump at the NAIA Outdoor
Championships May 26-28.
STLCOP Honors David Baker as All-American
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| David Baker stands under the All-American banner in the Pillbox. |
On Monday, April 30, students, faculty, staff, friends, and the St. Louis media convened in the St. Louis College of Pharmacy gym, known as the Pillbox, to honor David Baker as an All-American. Baker, a fifth-year pharmacy student, earned his second All-American title at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio, on March 3rd. Running 4:08.30 in the one mile run, Baker took sixth place at the national meet for the second year in a row to earn All-America status. Baker is the only athlete in St. Louis College of Pharmacy history to be named All-American. He will compete in the 1500m run at the NAIA Outdoor National Meet on May 26-27 in Marion, Ind.
Three Eutectics Named KIAC Players of the Week
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| Bethany Chew (top), Kamara Cox (left), and David Baker (right) were named KIAC Field and Track Athletes of the Week. |
After competing in last weekend's Saint Louis University (SLU) Billiken Invitational, three Eutectic track and field athletes were recognized by the conference for their record-breaking performances for the week of April 9-15.
Freshman Bethany Chew earned KIAC Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week for her record-breaking performance in the javelin throw. Chew finished 7th in the javelin and broke the STLCOP school record with a mark of 100'11." She became only the second athlete in the KIAC to break the 100-foot mark.
Freshman Kamara Cox also competed in record-breaking fashion on the track at the meet, receiving KIAC Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week honors. Cox broke STLCOP records in the 100 (13.85) and 200 (29.31) meter dashes taking 7th and 18th places in the races. Cox also broke a school record in her first at the triple jump (9.37m/30-09.00) finishing fouth, while also setting a school record in the long jump (4.56m/14-11.50) and taking eighth place at the meet.
The KIAC Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week went to senior and All-American David Baker for the second time this season. Baker broke the school record in the 5000m run at the SLU meet with a time of 15:02.27, just 2.5 seconds away from the NAIA national meet qualifying mark. He followed that up with a personal best in the 800m, running 1:55.42—less than a second off the NAIA qualifying mark. Baker has already qualified for the NAIA national meet in the 1500m.
St. Louis College of Pharmacy track and field will return to action on April 28 when they participate in the
KIAC Championship in Berea, Ky.
Track Teams Break Records at SLU Invitational
Freshman Kamara Cox broke three STLCOP women's records, starting with the 100m (13.85) and the 200m (29.31) dashes. She would also lead the Euts in the jumps. Her long jump of 14'11" was just three inches off of
her personal long jump record, and, in her first ever triple jump competition, she would break the STLCOP record with a jump of 30'9." "Kamara is just a really good athlete," said Head Track and Field Coach David Baker. "I think we are just getting a taste of what she's capable of, and I'm looking forward to seeing her progress going into our conference meet."
Fellow freshman Bethany Chew broke her own school record in the javelin at the SLU meet. Her throw of 30.77m/100'11" was good enough to finish seventh overall in the meet and it ranked 91st overall in the NAIA. "In warm ups, Beth had a throw of around 33-34 meters. It was out there," said Baker. "I'm hopeful she'll be able to find another throw like that or more in competition."
In the shot put, freshman Alexa Faulkner continues to lead the way for the Eutectics. "Alexa has PR'd in every
competition since her first throw during the indoor season," said Baker. "It's just fun for us to see her really
thriving in the shot." Faulkner's throw of 8.81m/28'11" set the school record. She'll be hoping to crack the 30-
foot mark at the KIAC conference meet in two weeks.
On the men's side, senior All-American David Baker led the way for the Eutectics in the running events. His
competition started with the 5000m on Friday night. Though Baker would break the school record with a time of
15:02.27, it's worth mentioning that two other Euts also broke the record in the previous heat. Senior Silvio
Flaim beat his personal best by more than 30 seconds, running 16:21, and freshman Matt McKenzie also PR'd with a time of 16:39. Baker's time was just 2.5 seconds away from the NAIA national meet qualifying mark for the 5000m. Baker returned on day two to set a personal best in the 800m. His time of 1:55.42 was less than a second off the NAIA qualifying mark for the 800m. Baker has already qualified for the NAIA national meet in the 1500m.
The Eutectics rounded out the day with school records in the shot put and the javelin. "These are really exciting
events for our team," said Coach Baker. "We've got a lot of intra-squad competition going on with a lot of pride on
the line. I think the men are really pushing each other, which is helping everyone in the end." In the shot put, junior Andy Mou finished 4th overall, pulling out a narrow victory over his teammates with a record-setting
throw of 12.97m/42'6.75". Mou was followed closely by sophomore Jordan Robertson (6th, 12.53'/41'1.5") and by
freshman Clinton Washington (8th, 11.82m/38'9.5").
The javelin saw a number of lead changes among the Eutectic throwers during the meet. On his final throw, Robertson would set a new personal best and school record, finishing 3rd overall with a throw of 51.08m/167'7". Robertson was followed closely by senior Alec Daily (6th, 47.84/156'11PR) and Washington (7th, 153'11"PR). Daily also finished 3rd in both the high jump (1.85m/6'0.75") and triple jump (12.56m/41'2.5").
Sophomore distance specialist Yang Pan ran the Go! St. Louis marathon on Sunday, finishing in 3:34.06.
The STLCOP track teams will have the next two weeks off of competition to prepare for the KIAC championships on April 28 in Berea, Ky.
Baker and Pankey Named KIAC Athletes of the Week
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Fifth--year David Baker First-year Brian Pankey |
Fifth-year and two-time All-American David Baker and first-year Brian Pankey earned conference accolades this week when they were named KIAC Men's Outdoor Track Athlete and Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week on April 2. Both qualified for the NAIA Outdoor National championships in the first outdoor track meet of the season at the Washington University Invitational on March 31.
Baker finished second out of 86 athletes in the 1500m run, breaking his own school record by two seconds with a time of 3:54.34. He also finished 13th in the 800m run with a time of 1:57.44. Pankey won the triple jump competition at the meet, beating out 26 fellow jumpers with a leap of 46'3/4" and breaking the STLCOP record by nearly five feet. In addition, he took 21st place in the 400m dash with a time of 51.40. The two athletes accounted for 18 of STLCOP's 22 points at the meet, helping the team to a 15th place finish among 32 teams.
St. Louis College of Pharmacy track and field will return to action on April 10 when they compete in the
McKendree Tri-Meet in Lebanon, Ill.
Track Teams Qualify Two at First Outdoor Meet
The track teams competed in the first outdoor meet of the season at the Washington University Invitational on
March 31 qualifying two individuals to the NAIA National Championships. Two-time All-American David Baker qualified in the 1500m running 3:54.35, taking second place (of 86 competitors) and smashing his previous STLCOP record from last season. Freshman standout Brian Pankey beat out 26 other jumpers to win the triple jump with a jump of 46'3/4" and qualify for nationals at his first collegiate outdoor meet. Baker and Pankey will travel to Marion, Ind., to compete in the national championships on May 24-26.
Other highlights for the men's team included third-year Jordan Robertson's fifth-place finish in the javelin (of 45) with a STLCOP record-breaking throw of 167'5" along with an 18th-place finish in the long jump, 19th in the triple jump, and 20th in the shot put. Baker and Pankey also finished well in their other events. Baker took 13th in the 800m with a time of 1:57.44, while Pankey was 21st in the 400 (51.40). Clinton Washington posted a 19th place in the javelin throw by tossing the stick 142’. The Eutectic men's team placed 15th of 32 teams posting scores at the meet.
The freshman women had a good showing at the meet as well. Alexa Faulkner set STLCOP's shot put record with 28'5 3/4". Bethany Chew placed 14th in the javelin and broke the STLCOP record with a throw of 97’11”, while Kaitlin LaBoube placed 22nd (of 41) in javelin with a 84’6” throw, which also beat the previous STLCOP record. Kamara Cox broke the STLCOP 100m dash record with a time of :14.01. The Eutectic tracksters will be back on the track on April 10 at the McKendree tri-meet.
STLCOP's David Baker is KIAC Nominee for NAIA Dr. Leroy Walker Award
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David Baker |
Fifth-year pharmacy student and All-American track recipient David Baker was selected by the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) as the conference nominee for the NAIA Dr. Leroy Walker Champions of Character Award early this month. The award is based on of the NAIA Champions of Character program and its five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership, and honors Dr. Walker, president emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee and former NAIA president.
Baker, who in 2011 became STLCOP's first-ever All-American, earned the conference selection for his outstanding academic and athletic achievement along with campus and community leadership, embracing the five core character values, and future ambition.
Athletic Director Jill Harter believes Baker exemplifies the Champions of Character values. "The list of David’s honors is long and demonstrates his achievement as a cross country and track runner, excellence in the classroom, and service on campus and in the community," Harter said. "However, what that list cannot convey is the quiet and humble demeanor with which David goes about his business and incorporates the Champions of Character values into his everyday life."
Baker's list of accomplishments during his college career is lengthy. In addition to his two-time All-American
status, he has earned five NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for cross country and track, has been a mainstay on the STLCOP dean's list, has made numerous appearances at the national cross country championships, has won several conference champion titles, and holds several STLCOP records in both cross country and track and field. Baker also volunteers his time as a student pharmacist assisting with programs for children with asthma and ailing seniors and works as a tutor to assist fellow pharmacy students.
"He cares and nurtures his teammates' development and understands that success can be achieved in more than just one's time," head cross country and track coach David Baker (no relation) said of Baker. "No one works as hard as David does, but because of him many have worked harder than they believed they could."
Fellow fifth-year pharmacist Silvio Flaim echoes Coach Baker's remarks about Baker, calling him a "natural leader" and finding himself "inadvertently looking towards David for ways to succeed." "Thanks to David," Flaim said, "I have grown both as an individual and a student-athlete by trying to emulate many of this qualities."
The national Dr. Leroy Walker Award winner will be announced in April.
David Baker Becomes Two-Time All-American
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On March 3, fifth-year David Baker repeated his All-American performance from last year in the 1-mile run at the NAIA Indoor National Track and Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio. His time of 4:08.30 earned him sixth place.
Baker is celebrated as St. Louis College of Pharmacy's first-ever All-American for his sixth-place finish at the 2011 indoor nationals, running the mile in 4:13.50. He began his journey to the 2012 national meet by qualifying at the very first indoor meet of the season in December with a time of 4:17.27. For the past three months, he has been training and competing in local meets to prepare him to run at nationals.
Once there, Baker needed to finish in the top three (of 12) in his preliminary qualifying heat on Friday, or have one of the next four fastest times, to get into the finals on Saturday. During his preliminary heat on Friday, March 2, Baker ran the mile in 4:14.68, the sixth-fastest time overall, to qualify for the finals. Then, on Saturday, with everything on the line, Baker broke his own STLCOP record (from last year's indoor nationals) of 4:13.50 by five seconds to earn his second All-American title.
The race was faster than Baker and STLCOP's head track Coach David Baker expected. All 10 finalists recorded finishing times that were faster than last year's national champion. Because of this, Baker could not use his planned strategy of outkicking others at the final lap. He, along with the rest of the competition, had no extra gear left at the end of the race.
"It was such a fast race from the start," said Coach Baker. "David had never been in a race where he was challenged that early. So it was less strategic and more about talent and guts." Setting a personal record in the 1,000-meter during the race, Baker set out running faster than he ever had.
"I somehow lucked out," Baker said. "I was in seventh or eighth place around the third lap and the guy on the outside of me didn't close the gap between us, so I was able to pass on the inside. I could definitely feel it in my legs at 1,000, so then I just had to hang in there."
Baker's 4:08.30 mile time makes him the fastest collegiate athlete in Missouri. He scored three points at the national meet put STLCOP in 48th place in the NAIA.
When Coach Baker congratulated Baker, he told him "I think this one's going to take a couple days to sink in." But Baker had no resting planned. Despite his sore legs, he went out for a long run on Sunday and will continue training for the outdoor season.
STLCOP's first outdoor track and field competition will be March 30 and 31 at the Washington University Invitational.
David Baker Qualifies for Nationals at First Meet
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Fifth-year student-athlete |
All-American David Baker was back on the track Dec. 3 just long enough to qualify for the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in his first race of the season. Baker, who placed sixth in the nation last year and became the first-ever STLCOP All-American, ran a 4:17.27 mile - easily surpassing the 4:20 qualification standard - at the Saluki Fast Start meet at Southern Illinois University. After the first week of the indoor track and field season, Baker is currently number one in the NAIA.
With only one track workout since cross country season, Baker was running blind. "I had no idea how it was going to go on Saturday," he said. Then he added, "It turned out pretty good, though." Baker hopes to improve his time before the national meet in March, setting his goal at a sub-4:10 mile.
Cross country national qualifier Matt McKenzie also competed in the meet along with sixth-year Eutectic alum Amr Abualnadi. Between the three, STLCOP took three of the top four places in the 800-meter run, with Abualnadi winning the race in 1:58.77, Baker second at 1:58.90, and McKenzie fourth at 2:09.36. Abualnadi took fourth place in the one mile run, finishing in 4:21.28. McKenzie, running his first college race, ran 4:40.68.
Additional members of the Eutectic team also will attempt to meet the national qualifying standards when the team returns to action on Jan. 27th at the Principia College meet.
STLCOP Track Team is Outstanding at KIAC Conference Meet
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Alec Daily is KIAC Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Year |
The STLCOP Track team journeyed to Berea, Ky., for the KIAC Conference Meet with 16 athletes and left at the end of the day with 16 All-Conference performances. Alec Daily scored 48 of the men's team’s 166 points and was named the conference's Athlete of the Year. Daily won both the Long (20-1) and Triple Jumps (40-0) and won the 400 with a school record time of 50.66. Daily also was all-conference in the High Jump (3rd, 6-0') and Javelin (2nd, 146-0'), and was on the conference championship 4x400m relay team.
David Baker and Amr Abualnadi also contributed with Conference Championship performances. The 1500 previewed to be the race of the day with Baker, Abualnadi, and two Berea runners all within seconds of the NAIA Nationals qualification mark at the distance. Abualnadi took the pack out on pace to hit the qualification mark through three laps and then the race was on. Baker, having missed the standard by .25 seconds just one week earlier, powered through the final 400 hitting the mark and winning the race in a time of 3:56.29. By hitting the NAIA standard, Baker joins Abualnadi as
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David Baker and Amr Abualnadi Head to NAIA Outdoor Nationals |
Though not a conference championship performance, one of the highlights of the day occurred in the men's 400m hurdles. Jon Lingow, competing in a hurdles event for the first time in his life, entered the home stretch in second place just five meters behind the leader. Going for the win, Lingow attacked the final hurdle only to catch his trail leg falling to the track. He was able to pick himself up, leaving some flesh behind, and finish third overall in an all-conference and school-record time of 1:06.19.
"I was just so proud that he would run the race in the first place having no hurdling experience," said Head Coach David Baker. “And then to see him compete the way he did was truly an outstanding performance.”
The STLCOP men's team finished the meet in second place. Other all-conference and/or school record (SR) performances included:
3000m Steeple: Silvio Flaim; 3rd Place, 11:23
4x100m: 2nd Place, 45.89 (SR); Bobby Jones, Jon Lingow, Jake Gendron, Clayton Maxfield
4x800m: 3rd Place; Sarju Pancel, Silvio Flaim, Mark Streitz, and Amr Abualnadi
Triple Jump: Bobby Jones; 3rd Place, 37-05'
Shot Put:- Andy Mou; 3rd Place, 42-05 (SR)
Though the women's team consisted of only two, they were not to be outdone by the men. Both Suong Nguyen and Amber Crites checked in with All-Conference performances. Nguyen got the day going for the women, finishing third in the 100m Hurdles. Her time of 17.26 broke her own school record set just last week. Crites completed her own all-conference performance, finishing third in the 400 with a school-record time of 1:08.51. Crites came off the final turn in fourth, but tore down the home stretch to put herself in the third position. She would set school records in the Javelin (63-03') and the triple jump (5th, 25-03).
"I love having these two young ladies representing our school,” said Coach Baker. “They are both just the nicest girls you will ever meet, but then they just compete so hard. Whatever we lack in numbers on the girls’ side, these two make up for it."
"Just about every athlete on the team, in just about every event, set a season's best today,” Coach Baker continued. “They represented themselves extremely well, and I was very proud of the way they competed. This is an outstanding group of kids and we just had a lot of fun competing and supporting each other out there today."
Eutectics Storm to New School Records; Abualnadi qualifies for NAIA Nationals
The Eutectics arrived at Ralph Korte Stadium on the campus of SIU-Edwardsville to a chorus of rain on Saturday, April 23. The meet started on time, but events were delayed shortly after the start due to strong showers and thunder. After more than a half hour delay, the Eutectics went to work.
The highlight of the day was Amr Abualnadi's strong performance in the 800. Abualnadi raced out to the lead early and led until the last stretch, managing to grab second place with an NAIA national qualifying time of 1:53.64. Abualnadi's teammate, David Baker, just missed the NAIA qualifying mark, running a personal record of 1:55.59 - just 1.09 seconds from qualifying.
Although Baker just missed the qualifying mark in the 800, it was doubly painful due to his close call in the 1500. Baker's time of 3:57.25 set a new school record, but missed the NAIA standard by just .25 seconds. His race was going to plan prior to attempting an inside pass on the third lap. When the gap closed prior to the pass, Baker had to slow down, backing off of the two runners in front of him, and then pass on the outside. The move likely cost him the precious time needed to hit the mark. Baker will only have to wait one week to make his next attempt.
The Eutectics placed high in multiple events against a strong field including NCAA DI and DII schools. The weather and the conditions affected both times and distances, but the Euts didn't seemed bothered. Other outstanding performances included Alec Daily's STLCOP record-breaking performances in the 400 (51.63), the Javelin (45.44m/149-01), and as a leg of the record-setting 4x100 team. Jake Gendron also broke and held the school record in the javelin for about 30 seconds. Daily's record throw came immediately after Gendron's throw of 40.68m/133-05. Gendron also set a personal record in the 400 (54.76) and was a member of the 4x100 team. Jon Lingow and Tony Beoletto were the other members of the 4 x 100 and achieved personal records in individual events: Lingow in the 400 (55.06) and Beoletto in the Javelin (110-07).
Andy Mou led the Euts in the throws. He finished third in the shot put, despite throwing three feet short of his personal record due to difficult weather conditions. Sarju Pancel (4:44), Mark Streitz (4:58), and Yang Pan (5:14) each obtained personal records in the 1500.
The women's team, though small, showed tremendous improvement at the SIUE meet. Suong Nguyen knocked 1.5 seconds off of her personal record/school record in the 100H. Nguyen finished 2nd in her heat and 5th overall in a time of 17.80. Amber Crites also had a personal record and lowered her school record in the 400. Her time of 1:10.93 was good for 13th overall. Crites also competed in the Javelin for the first time ever. Her throw of 63-01 set the school record for Javelin.
"Our kids literally sat in their cars for more than an hour wondering whether or not we were going to run the meet. And for them to compete the way they did was just awesome. I'm just very proud of the way they rose to the occasion," said Head Coach David Baker.
The Euts next competition is the KIAC conference championship meet in Berea, Ky., on Saturday, April 30.
STLCOP All-American David Baker Honored
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Head Track & Field Coach David Baker, Athletic Director Jill Jokerst-Harter, President John Pieper, David Baker, and David's parents, Robert and Sharon Baker pose with a framed photo of Baker running the mile at the NAIA Indoor National Track & field Championships. |
On April 8, a ceremony was held in the Pillbox at St. Louis College of Pharmacy to honor the College's first-ever NAIA All-American, fourth-year student David Baker. To earn the title, Baker ran the mile in 4:13, finishing in sixth place at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships on March 5.
Students, faculty, staff, and friends attended the ceremony at which Athletic Director Jill Jokerst-Harter, President John Pieper, and Head Track and Field Coach David Baker spoke about Baker's accomplishments. Baker was presented with a large framed photograph of himself running the history-making race. A copy of the framed photo and plaque will be on permanent display at the College.
Baker thanked the group and his teammates, with a special nod to teammate Amr Abualnadi who pushed him during training runs. At the close of the ceremony, a new banner was unveiled on the the wall of the gym commemorating Baker's All-American status.
Abualnadi Named KIAC Track Athlete of the Week
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Amr Abualnadi Named KIAC Track Athlete of the Week |
Abualnadi, Baker, and Daily Lead Euts at Wash U. Invite
Fifth-year student Amr Abualnadi completed a solid two-event day by finishing the 800 meter in a school record time of 1:54.79. The NAIA national qualifying mark is 1:54.50. Though just short, there was no disappointment for either Abualnadi or for Coach David Baker.
"Amr attacked from the beginning, running just off the lead," said Coach Baker. "He really took off on the final lap and went for the win. I don't think he knew he was running a 1:54 pace or I think he would have qualified." Amr also finished in 7th place overall in the 1,500 meter with a personal best of 4:03.62.
All-American and fourth-year student David Baker also got off to a fast start in the first meet of the outdoor season. He took 3rd place in the 1,500 meter with a school record time of 4:01.97. Baker is just five seconds off the NAIA national qualifying time for the 1,500. Baker also broke the two-minute barrier in the 800 meter for the first time, finishing 6th overall with a time of 1:57.22.
"David and Amr continue to impress me with every race,” said Coach Baker. “I'm no longer for sure what ceiling is out there for them.”
Fourth-year student Alec Daily became the first Eutectic to compete in the decathlon. In doing so, Daily broke the school record in the high jump, clearing 6-02. He set the school record in the 100 meter with a time of 11.83, and set school records in both the pole vault (9-0.25) and decathlon (5287). Daily finished 6th overall in a strong field of decathletes, including three Division III All-Americans. Daily's finish currently ranks him 6th overall in the NAIA for the decathlon.
The Eutectic men's team ranked 16th of more than 30 teams at the meet.
For the women’s team, second-year student Suong Nguyen and first-year student Amber Crites set STLCOP records. Nguyen set the school record in the 100 hurdles (19.35), and Crites set records in both the 200 (30.77) and 400 (1:13.11).
Other outstanding performances included: third-year Andy Mou - 14th in the shot put (40-04.25), fourth-year John Tedder -, 23rd in the javelin (114-03), fourth-year Jake Gendron - 34th in the 400 (55.16), fourth-year Jon Lingow - 46th in the 100 (12.31), third-year Brian Bridgford - 49th in the 200 (25.43), and fourth-year Silvio Flaim - 48th in the 1500 (4:31.27).
The Eutectics will next compete at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Twilight meet April 23.
David Baker Earns NAIA All-American Honors
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David Baker Races to All-American Status |
Fourth-year David Baker became St. Louis College of Pharmacy’s first-ever NAIA All-American on Saturday, March 5, at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio. Baker took sixth place in the one mile run, finishing in 4:13.50.
Baker’s journey to nationals began at the Missouri Collegiate Challenge in Columbia, Mo., on February 18, when he and fellow Eutectic Amr Abualnadi qualified for the NAIA national championships. Baker ran a personal record and STLCOP record in the one mile with a time of 4:19.82, .78 seconds faster than the automatic qualifying standard for nationals.
He came into the national championships ranked 10th of 21 individual qualifiers. On Friday, March 4, running in the first of two heats, Baker knew he had to finish the preliminaries in the top 10 to qualify for the finals the next day.
“My goal at nationals was first, to not throw up before the race,” Baker laughed, “and second, to make it to the finals.” He did just that, shaving three seconds off his time and crossing the finish line at 4:16.91 in ninth place overall.
“When I finished the prelim, I swore I didn’t make it,” Baker said. “But then Coach came running over with a huge grin on his face. Then my goal was, of course, to get All-American.”
At the finals on Saturday, Baker put it into high gear to achieve that goal, running another three seconds faster than prelims.
“Entering the last lap of the race, I knew I was in sixth place – that last All-American spot,” said Baker. Feeling as though he had reached his top gear, Baker was caught off-guard when two runners challenged him from both sides with about 100 meters left. “That was when I decided I had to get it; I may never be this close again,” Baker said. “So, I kicked it up rounding the final corner and down the home stretch I passed two guys to get sixth place. It was the greatest feeling to cross that line, knowing I'd made it.”
Baker is already looking forward to the outdoor track & field season and hoping for a return trip to the national championships with teammate Abualnadi.
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KIAC Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Year Alec Daily |
STLCOP’s Alec Daily Named KIAC Men’s Track & Field Athlete of the Year
In its first year of competition and two track meets under its belt, the Eutectic men’s track team headed to Berea, Ky., for the KIAC Conference Championships on Saturday, April 24, to see if it could pull off an upset. Despite having small numbers, the Euts spread their talents and took second place to Berea College at the meet, beating out Brescia, Asbury, and Mountain State universities. With only ten men on the roster, and four of those joining the team just one week prior to the conference meet, the Euts did not have enough bodies to overthrow Berea College’s team of 28. Still, the Euts came home with the second-place trophy, 13 All-Conference performances, five conference champions, and the KIAC Track & Field Athlete of the Year award from third-year runner/jumper Alec Daily.
Daily competed in seven events, winning three, and scoring an impressive 37.5 points for the Eutectics. After winning the long jump (20 feet, 11 inches) and triple jump (40’3.75”), taking third in the high jump (5’10” in his first-ever high jump competition), and 400-meter (51.88 seconds), fourth in the 200-meter (23.89), and seventh in the 100-meter (12.38), Daily had enough stamina to run the third leg of the conference champion 4 x 400-meter relay. The relay team of Tyler Edwards, David Baker, Daily, and Amr Abualnadi beat the Berea team by more than four seconds, capping off the meet on a high note for the Eutectics. “It was definitely fun,” Daily said with a laugh. “I wasn’t happy with a couple of the performances, but I guess that comes with needing to be in four different places at once.”
Daily wasn’t the only conference champion or multi-event athlete. Fourth-year Abualnadi became conference champion in two individual events (800-meter and 1,500-meter races) and the 4 x 400-meter relay. With only one week of practice, first-year Jordan Robertson brought in 23 points for the Euts by competing and scoring in six events, including the 4 x 100-meter relay (with Tyler Edwards, Tyson Davis, and John Love). Sprinter/hurdler Edwards scored in five total events, and, for the first time ever, STLCOP scored points in the throws (22 points, to be exact), thanks to Robertson, third-years John Tedder and Tyson Davis, and second-year Andy Mou. Distance specialist Silvio Flaim took third in the 10,000-meters, while STLCOP’s lone women’s team member Courtney Wiedemer took third in the women’s 5,000-meter race.
Third-year cross country veteran and national qualifier David Baker not only scored 10.5 points through the 1,500 and 4 x 400 races, he also came out of his comfort zone to score in the field events. After running down the runway and trying his hand at triple jumping at practice the week before conference, Coach Baker made the decision to enter Baker in the triple jump. It was a wise decision, as Baker took third place in the event, creating a STLCOP sweep of the top three places in the triple jump.
Adding sprints and field events to the Eutectic repertoire was not in the original plans for the STLCOP track team this year. As in years past, Coach Baker assumed he would have the cross country runners train to compete on the track in the spring. But, after witnessing the strength and depth of the distance runners, he began to wonder if adding some diversity to the team (in the way of sprinters, throwers, and jumpers) would give the Eutectics the boost they needed to place as a team at the conference meet. So, a week before conference, he began rounding up additional athletes. Despite short preparation time, the terrific results of the conference meet have created excitement for next year. With a little more practice time and a few more bodies, the conference title could be within reach next year.
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