Brielle Baker medals in final race

DES MOINES – In her last race as a Creston Panther, Brielle Baker left everything on the track.

In a loaded 1,500 field the Creston senior runner took home a seventh place medal, set a new personal record and broke her own school record, running a time of 4:53.12.

“It’s just unbelievable to end my track career up here at state and bring home a medal. It’s just amazing,” said Baker.

Baker opened up the race by jutting out in front and holding the lead for the first lap, which she talked about after the race being important given her starting position.

As the likes of 11-time state individual champion and three-time 1,500 meter champ Janette Schraft of Glenwood reeled her in, Baker realized she was beginning to get caught in a tough position with the pack behind her.

“Well, since I started in lane one I knew I had to get out fast so I didn’t get boxed in. Then after the first lap I got a little bit boxed in and just tried my best to get around them,” said Baker. “I just tried stay with the top people. In order to run the best you have to stay with the best.”

As the race closed, Baker was able to again distance herself from the masses and beat out Maddy Juhl of Iowa Falls-Alden down the final stretch by six-tenths of a second to secure seventh and pick up two team points.

With her sister Braelyn in the 1,500 mix as well, the competitive juices were flowing one final time on the track for the two sisters as Brielle looked to cap off the season by topping her younger sister.

“Both is always the goal, but it felt really good to walk away with a medal,” said Brielle.

Braelyn completed the 1,500 in 5:06.18, which was good enough for 19th place in her first Co-ed State Track and Field Meet appearance.

“It’s a new type of race at state. It’s fast all the way so I had to change my strategy,” said Braelyn. “But, I’m still proud of Brielle. It’s great that she got a medal in her last race.”

Brielle Baker’s 1,500 wasn’t her only race of the day and she completed the 800 meters earlier Saturday morning.

With a time of 2:23.76, Brielle took home 14th in the event.

Friday’s races

Braelyn and Brielle also ran in the 4x800 Thursday, along with the 4x400 Friday at the state meet. Braelyn also took part in the distance medley as well.

Friday morning’s distance medley combo of Ashley Reynard, Brianna Fields, MaKenna Hudson and Braelyn finished the event in 4:24.14 to take 13th place.

For both Reynard and Fields, the distance medley marked their first events at their first state meet. Both later competed in the sprint medley Saturday morning in which Reynard, Fields, Peyton Rice and Hudson finished 18th in 1:55.93.

“I was actually really proud of myself, making it in two events and everything. I was really nervous for that, but I think our team did really well,” Reynard said.

“I was pretty nervous like Ashley until the very second where she handed it (the baton) off to me and it all went away. Then I just ran my race,” said Fields.

Hudson put together a sub-60 second split in both of her 400 legs of the sprint medley and the distance medley.

In the 4x400, the Panthers were unable to move out of the preliminary meets after taking fourth in in the opening heat in 4:07.56. However, the time was the fastest of the season for the Panthers.

“As a whole I think I did pretty good. There are a lot more nerves coming into this meet than a normal track meet, but I’m still proud of how I did,” added Braelyn.

Creston overall ended the state track meet with 11 team points thanks to medals 4x800 relay, the 1,500 and shot put.

Results

4x400 meter relay – 1. Solon, 4:00.65; 2. Glenwood, 4:02.83; 3. Independence, 4:02.92; 4. Wahlert, Dubuque, 4:03.12; 5. Atlantic, 4:03.37; 13. Creston, (Braelyn Baker, Peyton Rice, Brielle Baker, MaKenna Hudson), 4:07.56.

Sprint medley – 1. Assumption, 1:46.60; 2. Decorah, 1:49.82; 3. Solon, 1:50.23; 4. Wahlert, Dubuque, 1:50.28; 5. Pella, 1:51.54; 18. Creston, (Peyton Rice, Ashley Reynard, Brianna Fields, MaKenna Hudson), 1:55.93.

Distance medley – 1. Bishop Heelan, 4:04.86; 2. Carlisle, 4:06.83; 3. Solon, 4:12.83; 4. Dallas Center-Grimes, 4:13.34; 5. Anamosa, 4:15.40; 13. Creston, (Ashley Reynard, Brianna Fields, MaKenna Hudson, Brielle Baker), 4:24.14.

1,500 meter run – 1. Janette Schraft, Glen, 4:41.53; 2. Ainsley Erzen, Carlisle, 4:43.35; 3. Amber Aesoph, Bishop Heelan, 4:48.38; 4. Megan Sterbenz, Bishop Heelan, 4:50.50; 5. Ellie Meter, Iowa Falls-Alden, 4:50.51; 6. Emma Hoins, Waverly-Shell Rock, 4:52.62; 7. Brielle Baker, Crest, 4:53.12.

800 meter run – 1. Janette Schraft, Glen, 2:12.28; 2. Ainsley Erzen, Carlisle, 2:13.0; 3. Megan Sterbenz, DC-G, 2:15.27; 4. Madison Jochum, Bishop Heelan, 2:15.30; 5. Amber Aesoph, Bishop Heelan, 2:15.59; 14. Brielle Baker, Crest, 2:23.76.