BAKER WINS COLD LIFETIME FITNESS 5K
STORY BY Eric Welter

Columbus, Ohio (December 16, 2000) -

Former Michigan State standout Kyle Baker took control early, and splashed to a comfortable win in the rain-soaked Lifetime Fitness 5K Criterium held at the Easton Town Center.

With temperatures hovering in the upper 30's, Baker wasted little time moving to the front of the small, but competitive elite field. Unfazed by the steady rain and occasional gusts of wind, Baker covered the first mile loop in 4:38. Olympic Trials marathoner T.J. Lentz, Ray Weeden, and Chad Myers were already five seconds behind as they passed the mile mark.

Baker's strength, as evidenced by his recent second place finish at the U.S. National Cross Country Championships, enabled him to effortlessly extend his advantage over the second loop. Hitting two miles in 9:24, he held a nine second advantage over Lentz and fellow Ohioan Scott Wenger. Weeden and Myers were several more seconds adrift, and struggling to maintain contact.

Baker was never headed on the final loop, and finished smiling with a respectable 14:45 victory. Wenger eventually escaped Lentz to post a second place finish in 14:56. Lentz followed in 14:59, with Weeden hanging in for the final prize money slot in 15:13.

The affable Baker joked about the weather after the race. "Hey, I train in Michigan. The weather has been pretty bad there for awhile; this wasn�t too bad."

Baker hopes to qualify for the U.S. World Cross Country team (4K distance) in February.

The women's race was never in doubt as Renee Mangette cruised to an easy win in 17:35 over Mary Noel-Moon's 18:16 runner-up effort.

Men:
1. Kyle Baker, MI, 14:45 $400.
2. Scott Wenger, OH, 14:56 $250.
3. T.J. Lentz, OH, 14:59 $200.
4. Ray Weeden, OH, 15:13 $150.
5. Carleton "Buck" Jones, OH, 15:21 $0.

Women:
1. Renee Mengette, OH, 17:35 $400.
2. Mary Noel-Moon, OH, 18:16 $250.
3. Joanna Bonfiglio, OH, 19:47 $200.
4. Laura Gage, OH, 20:22 $150.