First-year cross country runner Jason Baker made an immediate impact for Lehigh, placing fourth overall at the Lehigh Invitational, earning Patriot League Rookie of the Week after his collegiate debut.
Baker finished the 6K in 18 minutes and 36.3 seconds, leading Lehigh runners and beating all other first-year runners on the course.
He said that moment was in the making for a while.
“I’m thrilled with my collegiate debut,” Baker said. “I’d been looking forward to that race since I committed last fall, and it felt like a dream come true on the start line.”
Baker said he felt he was in great shape going into the race and excited to finally test himself against college competition.
He said he wanted to take a chance, so he pushed himself hard at the beginning of the race and held the pace for as long as he could.
His performance was no surprise to his senior teammate Derek Coceano who witnesses Baker’s work ethic on a daily basis.
“I see not only the work he puts in, but his consistent drive and determination to be the best,” Coceano said.
Baker’s interest in running began the summer before seventh grade. He said he watched his older brother, who also ran cross country.
His father also ran to stay in shape and Baker would join him for morning runs throughout the summer.
Before his first year of high school, Baker began taking cross country more seriously, training with his high school team in the summer leading up to the season.
He said breaking school records helped him realize he could compete in college. Baker later became one of the top runners in Delaware and won multiple state championships his junior and senior year of high school.
When it was time to choose a college, Lehigh was already familiar to Baker.
His brother, Ryan Baker, is a senior on the cross country team, which allowed Jason to get to know some of his brother’s teammates before making his decision.
“The combination of the great engineering program, the incredible team atmosphere and being able to compete with my brother made Lehigh the perfect school for me,” Jason Baker said.
Junior teammate Charlie Butler said Jason Baker would attend Lehigh meets before he was a student.
“He serves almost as a liaison between the upperclassmen and new first-years, as he knew a lot of us were coming in,” Butler said.
Jason Baker’s familiarity with the team helped make his transition to college very smooth. He said arriving for pre-season allowed him to learn his way around campus and adjust to living in a dorm.
It also allowed him to spend more time with his teammates.
“Sometimes cross country can be seen as an individual sport, but here it feels like we’re a family that on any given day is willing to leave it all on the course for each other,” Jason Baker said.
Butler also said Jason Baker has quickly adapted to the team’s training and always brings energy to practices and activities even outside of competition.
Coceano said Jason Baker’s first performance is just the start of what he could accomplish at Lehigh.
Jason Baker said he plans to compete during the winter and spring track seasons, likely in longer-distance events. He said his main priority is competing wherever he can help the team.
He also said his long term collegiate goals include making nationals in cross country, reaching regionals in track and helping Lehigh accomplish goals outsiders may not expect.
“I worked really hard this summer with my training and preparing for the fall, and it felt like my hard work had been recognized,” Jason Baker said.
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