If you've ever spotted Kyle Baker near the starting line of a race, chances are you thought, "There's one of the fast guys." In this case, appearances aren't deceiving. The lanky, blond, smooth-striding runner, most likely behind a pair of sunglasses, was usually the fastest when he toed the line.

The 25-year-old Baker excelled on the roads in 2001, earning him the title of Michigan Runner of the Year. Highlights included a trio of Grand Rapids area wins: the Spectrum Health Irish Jig 5K (14:59), the Brian Diemer 5K (14:30), and the Reeds Lake 10K (31:01). Baker ran a fine 49:10 at the Crim 10-mile to finish as first American, and won the Meijer Golden Mile in Traverse City in a blazing 3:55. Baker, an assistant track and cross country coach at his alma mater, Michigan State University, seems to have in place all of the elements for success. He has plenty of training partners and logs many miles with Spartan team members. He has a trusted advisor in MSU head cross country coach Jim Stintzi, plus access to excellent training facilities. And he has a combination of speed and strength that makes him difficult to beat.

With personal bests on the track of 7:57 for 3000 meters, 13:51 for 5000 meters, and 28:46 for 10,000 meters, plus the aforementioned strong showings from one mile to ten miles on the roads, Baker has a hard time picking a favorite distance "I'd have to say the 3K," he muses, "although I feel the 5K could soon be my best distance." Evidence of this is Baker's performance at the Meyo Invitational on Notre Dame's indoor track last February, where he defeated a stellar field, leading five runners under 14:00 with his 13:51 PR.

Baker also has had success at 10K, qualifying for and competing in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials 10K in Sacramento. Baker's first big impact on the state running scene came in his first year at MSU, when he won the Big Ten Indoor 3000 meters and 5000 meters, a meet he cites as a personal breakthrough. He had spent his first two years of college at Ball State, but when distance coach Chris Buhler left the university, Baker decided to transfer. At that time, Baker's father was relocating from Indiana to Michigan for work, so Baker checked out MSU. There, he won All-America honors, two more individual Big Ten titles outdoors, and led the Spartan cross country team.

After stints with the Hanson's team and the Indiana Invaders club, Baker has opted for the relative independence that his coaching job provides. It pays the bills, easing the pressure of having to make money on the roads. "I enjoy coaching even more than I thought I would," Baker says.

As for his own training, Baker says, "I go to Coach Stintzi for advice. It's about 50/50; we bounce ideas off each other." One hundred miles per week, including two hard workouts, is the norm. Baker's staple workouts include fartleks, tempo runs and the "Oregon" workout, which alternates hard one-mile segments with three-mile tempo runs.

Hanson's team runners are some of Baker's best competition, because, "when you see those guys, you know you're going to be in a race." He credits his time with the Hanson's team as beneficial for "getting to train with people. It was an eye-opener as to what it was going to take to succeed at the post-collegiate level."

In addition to faring well against Michigan competition, Baker got the best of international runners at Traverse City's Golden Mile in July. He outkicked sub-4:00 Kenyans Ben Kapsoiya and Amos Kipyegon to take home first-place prize money. Not bad for a guy who doesn't even specialize in the mile. "I had no idea I'd do that well," Baker says.

His plans for 2002 include an attempt to qualify for the U.S. 4K team for the World Cross Country Championships. At the 2001 Trials in February, Baker finished seventh, missing the team by one place.

He would also like to better some of his track PR's. The Mason resident would like to try a marathon eventually, but sees that challenge as being a couple years away.

Look for Baker to be at the front of the pack in some of Michigan's most competitive track and road races as well. Chances are, when you see him now, you'll recognize him.