As senior Joshua Benyo Baker headed to his first cross country practice, he was not expecting much out of the sport. Before Menlo, he had never run competitively, as prior years had been filled with lacrosse. To him, the only reason he showed up was because his mom insisted he attend. However, Benyo Baker soon became more invested in cross country, eventually dedicating himself to the sport. This past fall, Benyo Baker committed to Grinnell College, where he will continue his career at the Division III level.
Initially, he disliked running, believing he would ultimately focus on lacrosse. However, as the season progressed, he kept at it, ultimately running track in the spring. “Over the past four years, I slowly became more interested, and it has been a progression where I realized I had a chance to run at the higher level,” Benyo Baker said.
As a member of one of the top cross country programs in the country (the Knights won the CIF State Division V Championship and finished 15th at Nike Cross Nationals), Benyo Baker has trained alongside elite talent in high school and been an integral part of the team’s fabric, something that interim track head coach Keith Larsen appreciates. “He is always willing to do whatever it takes to help the team,” Larsen said. “As one of our captains, he leads by example both on and off the track.”
As his passion for running grew, so did his aspirations for the sport. During the recruiting process, Benyo Baker considered schools such as Swarthmore College, Claremont McKenna College and Haverford College. However, although Grinnell was the first place he visited, he was confident that it was the right fit. “I met with the coach and the team,” Benyo Baker said. “It felt like a great place to grow, and everyone was committed to the program.”
Beyond the competitive aspect, Benyo Baker was drawn to Grinnell’s strong sense of community within the team. “The team felt a lot like a family,” he said. “It was clear that everyone was dedicated to both the sport and each other.”
Committing to Grinnell marks an exciting new chapter for Benyo Baker, who looks forward to continuing his development as a runner in a supportive environment. “I’m excited to be surrounded by teammates who push each other every day,” he said.
As he prepares for his next four years at Grinnell, Benyo Baker reflects on how far he has come, from a reluctant freshman runner to a dedicated collegiate athlete. “I never expected cross country to become such a big part of my life,” he said. “But now, I can’t imagine my future without it.”
