At SIU: Finished among the top-10 in seven of eight races during the outdoor season...registered three first-place showings in the 3000-meter steeplechase...in 2003, had three top-five indoor and seven top-10 outdoor finishes...placed third in the steeplechase at the MVC Outdoor Championships...claimed three first-place indoor finishes in 2002...also took runner-up honors in the steeplechase on two occasions...career indoor bests include 8:30.96 in the 3000-meter run and 15:05.07 in the 5000-meter run...holds career bests of 9:09.87 in the steeplechase and 14:51.72 in the 5000-meter run outdoors...all-MVC scholar-athlete in cross country...ran a career-best of 24:49.80 at the 2003 Bradley Cross Country Open.

Pre-SIU: Two-time all-conference and all-south selection in track at nearby Marion High School...three-time state qualifier...named all-conference, all-state and all-south in cross country.

Personal: Majors in Education...born Mar. 13, 1983...son of Joseph and Leana Baker.