The Baker track and field team traveled to California to compete last week in the Spring Break Invitational at the University of California Irvine.

“As a team, it was a good opportunity for them to see some other competition and Division I athletes,” head coach Zach Kindler said.

Junior Ashlee Miller won the high jump event and automatically qualified for nationals in the first meet of the spring outdoor season.

“I was planning on qualifying for nationals in my first meet,” Miller said. “I don’t have to worry about hitting my mark in high jump, and I plan on qualifying in more events.”

Junior Aaron Hannon placed fourth in the hurdles in California.

“There was certainly some pretty good competition at the meet,” he said.

Kindler, along with several other coaches, competed in several events at the meet as unattached athletes.

Kindler, who was talked into throwing by his team, competed in the javelin and went on to win the event.

“I somehow was able to muster out throwing a mark that won the event, and it was a lot of fun,” Kindler said. “It was fun for all of us to kind of re-live the glory days.”

Kindler said it had been three years since he had even touched a javelin and since 2002 when he threw in the event competitively.

“It was really fun to watch coach and see he is still a competitor,” Hannon said.

Though the athletes were competing in a tournament that included Division I athletes and top track schools, it allowed the team to relax and enjoy time away from home.

“The coaches made it clear to make sure we enjoy our time in California,” Hannon said. “It is always fun taking a trip with the team in a different environment.”

Miller said her success at the tournament may have been related to the trip.

“Because it was spring break, I was really relaxed and I wasn’t stressing about a lot of stuff,” Miller said.

The team will compete  at Liston Stadium during the Baker Relays. The relays originally scheduled for Saturday were postponed to Sunday afternoon.