Troy University Athletics
Baker Earns All-America Status with Fourth-Place Finish at Junior Nationals
6/22/2007 5:00:00 PM | Track & Field
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Tiphanie Baker wrapped up her freshman season Friday by earning All-America honors at the U.S. Track and Field Junior National Championship. The Leeds, Ala. native finished fourth in the discus in the exclusive meet with a throw of 48.57 meters (159-feet, 4-inches).
Baker won the first of two flights, breaking her own school record twice during her three preliminary throws. She reached 47.88 meters on her opening attempt, then followed a shorter try with her best effort of the meet.
"It was a great weekend and a wonderful experience," Baker said while travelling home from Indianapolis. "The hammer was a tough event for me, but I bounced back in the discus. It was pretty awesome to have my personal best throw on the first attempt, and even better to break that on my third try. I met a lot of new people and had fun."
During the finals, she posted her sixth and seventh best throws of the year -- both over 46 meters -- but was unable to improve her standing.
Baker becomes the first male or female Trojan to earn a Junior National medal since Troy entered its Division I era in in 1993. She also remains in the pool for international competition, although at the current time USA Track is only organizing one team for meets this summer.
Thursday, Baker had a tough day in the hammer throw, finishing 10th among 10 competitors. The newest of her event repetoire, she fouled twice before posting a distance of 40.90 meters (134-feet, 2-inches).
"Tiphanie represented the university at the highest level, just like she has all year," new Director of Track Jill Lancaster said. "She was put in a quality environment and she competed. She didn't let Thursday's downer affect Friday's event and that is the sign of a champion.
"Most athletes don't get to experience what she has this early in her career. We strongly believe that she has the tools to compete at this level, returning to senior nationals next year. This was a great learning opportunity as the protocols here are different from most other meets."
