Imagine you had just finished as the second-best runner in the state of Texas as a freshman.
Second Baptist School's Lauren Baker '24 set out to celebrate her recent victory by getting a hot fudge sundae from Dairy Queen.
After posting a time of 12:02.3 in her first-ever TAPPS 5A State Cross Country meet, that sundae was well-deserved.
Baker's time was just under 10 seconds behind the first-place finisher Reagan High, a junior from Southwest Christian School in Fort Worth, and 4.5 seconds ahead of Abby Metzger, a sophomore from Grace Community School in Tyler.
"I was about a mile and a half in, and I realized I had a good lead on the third person," Baker said. "I knew I could push it. I thought I could pass first, but with 400 meters left, I knew I would hold second."
Congratulations to Lauren Baker - 2nd place overall for TAPPS 5A as a freshman with a time of 12:02. #SBStogetherpic.twitter.com/bIh2eMTXuT
— SecondBaptistSchoolAthletics (@SBS_Athletics) November 3, 2020
In the Top 10, Baker was one of just three freshmen to finish in that grouping and the only one to stand atop the podium.
"It feels unreal," Baker said. "I started cross country in middle school and I was in the Top 10, but I was not in the top three runners. This year I've progressed and worked hard to get here."
Baker continues, "This definitely boosts my confidence. I know I am going to get faster every year, but this showed me that I can definitely compete with the older athletes. I'm excited to see what my time is next year."
As a mere freshman, Baker said the sky's the limit from here on out as she progresses in her running career.
What's even harder to believe is that the state cross country meet was only the fourth competitive meet of Baker's high school career. Due to COVID-19, there were fewer opportunities to compete.
Did Baker ever think that this would be possible?
"I would have never thought that I would be able to be second at state," she said. "My brother, Isaac, is a runner as well and he always told me about the state meet. I never expected to be in the top 10. Second Baptist School is unbelievable."
