Former Rivals Persinger and Baker Win State Track Titles

Abi Baker and Abby Persinger know each other really well having competed numerous times in Class AA Region 3 girls basketball.

Baker, a standout for Wyoming East is a two-time state champion. Persinger and the Bobcats were the Class AA runner-up in 2023 with the loss coming at the hands of the Warriors.

Saturday at the 2025 State Track meet on different ends of UC Stadium at Laidley Field, the dynamic hoops duo were again seeking a championship . This time, however, they were not competitors.

Unlike the state championship basketball meeting, both ladies walked away as a champion.

Baker stunned the crowd with a win in the girls Class A High Jump, while Persinger zipped past the Class A field in the 100 meter dash.

"I really don't think it is real right now. I am on such a high," Persinger said. "This is crazy. Now I know what it's like to win first place."

Merely running once again was a huge accomplishment for Persinger who battled back from an ACL tear suffered in AAU basketball early in the track season last year.

A successful senior stint on the hardwood gave her confidence heading into spring sports.

"One hundred percent it helped," Persinger said. "Basketball is rougher and a (more) harsh sport. (In track), you just have to run. To be comfortable with my knee during basketball season gave me comfort here."

In the Friday night preliminary qualifying race, Persinger was the second fastest runner, but Saturday she came ready to roll.

"Yesterday there was a false start and it really freaked me out. I started really slow," Persinger said. "I hesitated when the gun went off and I had to make up a lot of ground. I was like today, I am not doing that, I am going for gold today."

A great start placed Persinger in perfect position for the win.

"My main priority was to get a good start because I am better as I go on," Persinger said. "If I got good start, I knew I would be set and I did."

Baker on the other hand was not projected to win the high jump, but she was definitely considered a contender.

Simply competing in the high jump was a long shot for Baker, but her journey wasn't about an injury. Baker had merely competed in the event for just over three weeks prior to states.

"I started (competing in the high jump) at the Shady (Spring) meet (H.B. Thomas Invitational). I just wanted to try it," Baker said. "Then after the Oak Hill (meet), I started to get more serious about it because I thought that I had a chance. I started working with Marshall (Murray) at Woodrow (Wilson) so I could try and get better."

Time was not the only factor in the amazing title run by Baker who is believed to be the first to win a state track title in Wyoming East history.

"She doesn't even have a high jump (apparatus) for practice," Wyoming East head coach Emily Simmons said. "She has only practiced it like five times."

In addition to their state title wins, Persinger and Baker also garnered All-state honors which is given to the top-8 finishers.

The Summer County standout was 3rd-place in the 200 meter dash and 4th-place in the 4x200 meter relay with Cheyenne Smith, Hadley Bennett and Avery Lilly. Persinger finished seventh in the 4x100 meter relay with Harleigh McGraw, Bennett and Melanie Hayes.

Baker was sixth in the 300 meter hurdles.