The Baker track and field teams sent four athletes to participate in a track meet last weekend at Central College in Pella, Iowa.

The athletes had several reasons for traveling to the meet. Some needed one more chance to qualify for nationals, and some just wanted another opportunity to improve.

Junior Regan Boyer, who finished second in the women’s high jump event and 10th in women’s 400-meter hurdles, said it was interesting to compete against new competition.

“It was different faces so you didn’t know what to expect from them,” she said. “We still held our own. There were a few (Division I) girls I competed against.”

Those different faces were athletes from schools like Buena Vista University, Cornell, Simpson, Grinnell, Coe and Iowa Western Community colleges and some who ran “unattached,” or with no affiliation to a college.

Sophomore Matthew James, who placed second in the 400-meter hurdles, said the other colleges provided above average opposition.

“There was some decent competition,” James said. “There were a few guys that were pretty quick.”

The other Baker track and field athletes who participated were junior Kayla Irwin and freshman Cheyenne Barron.

Irwin placed first in the pole vault while Barron placed ninth in the triple jump.

James said, overall, the four competitors from Baker performed admirably at the meet.

“Regan did really well in high jump,” James said. “Overall, I think we did well.”

James added that although he wasn’t disappointed in his hurdles time, he wasn’t satisfied with it either.

“My time was good, but it wasn’t quite what I want it to be yet,” James said. “I think I can improve even more.”

Next up, the Baker men’s and women’s track teams will travel to Emporia for the ESU Twilight meet Saturday.

The Emporia meet will be the last chance for athletes to qualify for nationals.