Kayla Baker

Photo by: Craig Lassig

Class:
Redshirt Junior
Position:
Mid-Distance
High School:
Cloquet Senior HS
Hometown:
Cloquet, Minn.

PRONUNCIATION

2019 Cross Country • Redshirt Junior Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honoree • earned first letter in cross country • ran four races • ran a career-best 6K time of 23:12.3, leading the team at the Neubauer Invite • improved her 6K time in all four consecutive races.

2020 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Junior Season: Named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten • ran seven races with appearances in the 800m, mile, and 4x400-meter relay • ran a career-best 2:19.01 in the 800m at the Jack Johnson Classic • ran a career-best 5:13.26 in the mile at the Minnesota Cold Classic • won the 800m at UW-Stout • indoor season ended on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns.

2020 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Junior Season: The 2020 outdoor track & field season was canceled on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns.

2018 Cross Country • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten honoree • ran four races • ran a career-best 24:00.2 as the third Gopher at the Tori Neubauer Invite • made Gopher cross country debut at the Oz Memorial, placing 36th overall.

2019 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Ran four races • ran a season-best 2:22.79 in the 800m at the UST Showcase • ran a career-best 5:30.40 in the mile at the Minnesota Open.

2019 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Sophomore Season: Named Academic All-Big Ten • ran seven races with appearances in the 800m and 4x400m relay • ran a career-best 2:18.05 in the 800m at the Lady Bear Twilight.

2017 Cross Country • Redshirt Freshman Season: Did not compete during the 2017 cross country season.

2018 Indoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season: Joined the Gopher women's track & field program in January 2018 • ran five races • ran a career-best 1:40.01 in the 600m at the UST Showcase • ran a career-best 2:20.97 in the 800m at the Parents Day Invite.

2018 Outdoor Track & Field • Redshirt Freshman Season : Ran five races with four appearances in the 800m and one in the 4x400m relay • ran a career-best 800m time of 2:20.27 at the Janis Rider Invite.

2016-17 • Freshman Season: Did not compete for the Gophers during her freshman year at the University of Minnesota in 2016-17.

High School: A 2016 graduate of Cloquet Senior High School where she competed for coaches Tim Prosen, Jeff Leno, and Arne Maijala • a three-sport letterwinner in track & field, soccer, and hockey • five-time all-conference honoree, two-time all-section honoree • two-time Minnesota Class AA State Track & Field Championship qualifier in the 4x800m relay, placing 13th as a junior and 14th as a senior • 10-time Lake Superior Conference champion in the 4x200m relay (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), 4x400m relay (2012, 2014, 2015), 400m (2016), and 800m (2013, 2016) • two-year team captain in track & field • holds Cloquet school records in the 4x200m relay, 4x400m relay, and 800m • named Cloquet’s 2016 Senior Athlete of the Year • also served as team captain and earned all-area and all-conference honors in both soccer and hockey.

Personal: Daughter of Eric Baker and Shawn Baker • has one sibling, Breanne • Biomedical Engineering major • enjoys running, skating, rollerblading, walking dogs, and spending time outdoors • graduate third in her high school class • National Honor Society member.

Baker's Cross Country Career Bests (2019 Final)
Event	Mark	Meet (Date)
6K	23:12.3	Tori Neubauer Invite (10/19/19)
Baker's Indoor Career Bests (2020 Final)
Event	Mark	Meet (Date)
600m	1:40.01	UST Showcase (2/9/18)
800m	2:19.01	Jack Johnson Classic (2/1/20)
Mile	5:13.26	Minnesota Cold Classic (2/21/20)
Baker's Outdoor Career Bests (2020 Final)
Event	Mark	Meet (Date)
800m	2:18.05	Lady Bear Twilight (4/19/19)