Name: Colin Baker
Hobbies: Reading, being outdoors
Academic interest: Biomedical Engineering, Mathematics
Personal bests: 5K (xc)- 14:48, 5000m- 14:51, 3200m- 9:09, 1600m- 4:20
What does it mean to be named to the Shrine Bowl Run team and helping the hospital?
It is honor to be named to the SBR team. I am very grateful for this opportunity.
What did you hear about the Shrine Bowl Run before this year?
I heard about the Shrine Bowl Run from reading the Milesplit website over the past couple of years.
What do you hope to experience during The Run?
I hope I can make some new friends with some of the best runners in the state and support the hospital.
How are you preparing to run with a football?
I throw the pigskin around sometimes with my little brother. I am hoping this little experience with the football will allow me not to make a fool out of myself, furthering the unathletic distance runner stereotype.
How would you rate your senior season?
I would give myself a 8.5/10. I was able to achieve the majority of my goals but was unable to achieve a couple important ones. I did get All-American at Foot Locker Nationals, and I won my state championship. However, I underperformed in the 3200m at Dash For Doobie, and I did not break the state meet record of 14:37 (Watch David Adams' 14:37). I believe these failures were probably for the best; I am more motivated when I feel like I have something to prove.
What future goals do you have?
During track, I would like to break the state record in the 3200m of 8:56 and run low 4:10s in the 1600m. Additionally, I would like to qualify for the Brooks PR Invite in Washington and get All-American at New Balance Indoors. In college, I hope I can contribute as much as I can to the Harvard team and compete at the national level.
Watch: David Adams' 8:57 3,200 in 2000
Have you made the decision to compete at the next level? Please explain.
I have committed to compete for Harvard starting in the fall. It was not an easy choice, as all the schools I looked at had a lot going for them. Ultimately, I felt like Harvard would be the best fit for me.
How did you get involved with the sport and when?
I ran cross country for the first time in seventh grade through my local Junior Olympics club: Mount Pleasant Track Club. At the time, I was still way more focused on soccer, and I hardly trained. After having success that season and the following track season, I decided that distance running was the sport for me. I started running for my high school in eighth grade and really began taking the sport seriously.
Do you have any relation or know someone that has attended the Shriners Hospital?
I do not know anyone nor have any relations to anyone at the Shriners Hospital.
How have you seen the sport change in the state? Please explain.
The talent level in S.C. has greatly increased in the past couple years. We are starting to consistently produce runners that can compete at the national level. Guys like Coen, Marlon, and Noah, just to name a few, really make me excited for the future of S.C. distance running. I believe in the next couple of years S.C. will be on the same level or even surpass states like Tennessee and Florida in distance running.
What was your motivation for your final XC season?
I wanted to begin cementing myself as one of the best runners in the country as well as one of the best runners in S.C. history. Moreover, when my coach announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season, I really wanted him to end his coaching career on a high note.
If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why?
This is a tough question. I suppose it would be awesome to make an enormous scientific discovery.
