Olivia Baker & Columbia (NJ)
With high school bests of 11.64 for 100 meters and 5:05 for 1,600 meters, Olivia Baker has one of the most impressive ranges in prep history. Like many northeastern stars, The Penn Relays Carnival factors heavily into her mystique.
When her Columbia team lined up at Franklin Field in 2013, the last American squad to win the HS Girls Championship of American 4x800m was Eleanor Roosevelt (MD), six years prior in 2007. The last New Jersey team to win was Bernard's in 1983, where Columbia placed runners-up.
In 2013, Columbia got redemption at last as Baker, handed the baton with a five-second deficit, ran down Edwin Allen (JAM) with a 2:09.9 split, including 29 seconds for the final 200 meters, to win 8:56.37 to 8:56.86.
Kenya Gaston (2:18.1), Imani Coleman (2:13.2) and Shanika Dessin (2:15.2) put Baker into position to execute. But they weren't done - Gaston (56.0), Cheyenne Trigg (56.9), Dessin (56.1) and Baker (53.5) placed fourth overall as the top U.S. squad in the COA 4x400m.
In 2014, Baker was back with Eleanor Roosevelt's 8:43 National High School Record on her mind. The Columbia girls repeated, but just missed the 8:43 - Aigner Bobbitt (2:17.21), Imani Coleman (2:11.82), Emilie Cowan (2:13.8) and Baker (a flying 2:02.55) settled for U.S. No. 2 All-Time 8:45.37.
- Olivia Baker Athlete Profile
- Penn Relays 2013 Day Two Recap: Columbia's sweet redemption
- Penn Relays 2014 Friday Stories: There was never a doubt with Baker on the anchor
- Watch Olivia Baker split 52.93 anchor on 4x400m Relay
- Watch Columbia run U.S. No. 2 All-Time 8:45.37 4x800 with Baker's 2:02.55 anchor
ALAN WEBB & SOUTH LAKES (VA) | TASHA STANLEY & ELEANOR ROOSEVELT (MD) | NICK VENA (MORRISTOWN, NJ) | MATT CENTROWITZ (BROADNECK, MD) | MARY CAIN (BRONXVILLE, NY) | OBEA MOORE & JOHN MUIR (CA) | BRYSHON NELLUM & LONG BEACH POLY (CA) | YOHAN BLAKE & ST. JAGO (JAM) | DATHAN RITZENHEIN (ROCKFORD, MI) | ALBEMARLE (VA) & MORRIS HILLS (NJ) BOYS 4X800M | OLIVIA BAKER & COLUMBIA (NJ) | SEAN MCGORTY (CHANTILLY, VA) | SHALONDA SOLOMON & LONG BEACH POLY (CA)