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PASSION AND DETERMINATION
LEADS TO SUCCESS FOR JAYHAWK TWINS
It was the perfect day for a cross country meet at
Rim Rock Farm. The sun was shining and the
University of Kansas Jayhawks were having a
successful day on the course. Then a freshman,
Nashia Baker had just rounded the last turn and
BY: CASEY CRAIG
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was heading down the home stretch when she
saw a familiar face. Just ahead of her was her twin
sister, Malika. Their mother, Clarinda Baker, stood
on the side yelling, “GO BAKER!”
As they raced toward the finish line, the length
between them quickly decreased. It was a photo
finish. Malika believed Nashia had beaten her, but
the scoreboard surprised them both. Remarkably,
both sisters crossed the finish line at exactly
22:17.74 on the clock to tie for 14th place.
The result signified the strong bond and similarities
of the Baker twins, the tradition of running in the
Baker family and their work ethic. But with all of
their similarities, individually, the Baker twins are
running down new and separate paths in life.
Running: A Family Affair
First and foremost, Malika’s and Nashia’s parents,
Clarinda and Lawrence Baker, are proud, happy
and exhilarated with what their daughters have
accomplished.
“Just to see them grow from being so little and
cute with their pigtails to high school graduation,”
saidClarindaBaker.“It’sseeingmybabiesbecome
adults. They have grown so much and I’m proud.”
Clarinda and her husband, Lawrence, both ran
cross country as well as track and field at Fort
Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia. It
was where the two met and, while dating, talked
about the possibility of the kids competing like
they did.
“Wouldn’t it be kind of neat if we get married and
have kids that run track and field?” Cynthia said
of her early conversations with her future
husband. “But we said that would never
happen.”
Lawrence Baker echoed this sentiment as he
reflected on how the couple raised their kids.
“Our parenting philosophy encouraged all of
our kids to lead balanced lives, which included
a variety of activities to include being great
students, taking piano lessons, participating in
extracurricular clubs and conducting volunteer
events,” he said “We initially believed the twins
would become tennis stars, but ultimately we
knew they were capable of accomplishing
anything they set their minds to achieve.”
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For Malika and Nashia, running became their
biggest passion. They both agree that part of them
choosing running was because of their parents.
“Since both of our parents were runners, we knew
from a young age that we wanted to run,” said
Nashia. “Looking back now, I realize I wouldn’t
have wanted to do any other sport.”
By the time they were upperclassmen at Lansing
High School, Malika and Nashia had competed in
track and field for four years, cross country for
two years and were rewriting the record books at
LHS in both sports.
The twins looked to continue their success, when
choosing to run for KU after high school, which
they have. This can be attributed to the work ethic
they developed and their passion for the sport.
The Passion, Drive and Focus
The Baker parents may have introduced Malika
and Nashia to running; however, the twins
quickly developed a love and talent for it on
their own. To improve and hone their skills,
Malika and Nashia held themselves to higher
standards and would often go above and
beyond in their training.
“Inhighschool,they’dcomehomeafterpractice
and say, ‘Hey we didn’t do much at practice
today, we are going to go work some more,’”
said Clarinda Baker. “I think that just being
athletes causes you to have a focus and drive.”
It’s stories like these that illustrate how Malika
and Nashia, as Clarinda says it, developed the
“killer instinct” when it came to running. The
NashiaMalika
RECORDS
BROKEN
L A N S I N G
H . S .
TRACK AND FIELD
400 m 800 m
4x200 Relay 1600 m
- 3200 m
4x400 Relay 4x400 Relay
4x800 Relay 4x800 Relay
CROSS COUNTRY
- 4000 m
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transition from high school to college has not
stopped the twins’ determination and focus either.
Said Clarinda, “They talk about having zero dark-
thirty practices, taking a short nap, classes and
then practice again. Only athletes would stay
focused and do something like that.”
Clarinda also sees this determination and focus
in other areas of her daughters’ lives beyond
running.
“For Nashia, I’ve seen that focus in her pursuit of
a degree in journalism and eventually getting her
masters degree,” said Clarinda. “She talks with
people in journalism and tries to watch the news
asmuchaspossible.Shesays,‘Mama,I’mreading
up so I can be the next lady on SportsCenter.’
Being an athlete has helped her to focus on what
she needs to do and what she is actually
accomplishing now.”
Lawrence Baker agrees with his wife in that it’s
their daughters’ focus that has enabled them
to achieve the success they’ve had.
“We believe their success is due to a
combination of natural ability and passion for
running,” Lawrence explained. “The girls
possess exceptional determination, they love
competing and they enjoy being great
teammates. The girls are unique, but they are a
lot alike in their approaches to overcoming
challenges. They are both resilient and
determined, which facilitates success.”
While Malika and Nashia have proven their
individual success on the track as well as while
traversing the trails of a cross country meet,
IF YOU’RE HAVING
A BAD DAY, BOTH
OF THEM WILL
STOP WHAT
THEY’RE DOING AND
HELP YOU OUT.
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they have come to love the team aspect of running.
That only motivates them more to give their all,
which plays in to the similarities in their
personalities.
“In ways their personalities are truly alike, in that
if you need help, they will definitely help you,” said
Clarinda. “If you’re having a bad day, both of them
will stop what they’re doing and help you out.”
Where the Trail Divides
Once in awhile on campus a person will walk up
to Nashia or Malika and ask, “Hey are you guys
twins?” Besides their looks and passion for
running, Malika and Nashia each have chosen
studies that will take them down very different
paths that are reflections of their individual
personalities.
Malika is pursing a major in International Studies
with the goal of attending law school. She hopes
that through her studies she can learn the different
aspects and perspectives of people around the
world. With this understanding she wants to
become an immigration lawyer.
“I knew I wanted to go somewhere in the law field.
My uncle is a lawyer, so I’ve always been interested
in law,” said Malika. I thought the international
studies was a broad enough major that could take
me in a lot of different directions. I hope to be an
immigration lawyer once I graduate.”
To the Bakers’ parents, this comes as no surprise
based on her personality, strong beliefs and points
of view.
“Malika will help you out first and then get her
work done,” said Clarinda. “So she sometimes
is extremely helpful. I’ll say, ‘You need to get
your work done’ and she’ll say, ‘Nope, this
person needs my help.’”
Forherentirelife,Nashiahaswantedtobecome
a journalist. As a child, she had her parents
record her doing a newscast on a homemade
cardboard camera. At Lansing High School,
she wrote for the school newspaper, The
Maneline. Nashia enjoys expressing herself
through her writing. Her goal is to one day be a
television news broadcaster.
When asked to describe each of her daughters
in one word, Clarinda chose “faith” for Nashia
and “friend” for Malika.
“Faith,” said Clarinda, “would be the one word
to describe Nashia. She has faith that no matter
what she is doing, there is a reason for it.
Whether it be staying up until 2 a.m. studying
for a test or all of the hours pounding the dirt
for cross country and her practicing on her own,
it will make a difference when the team needs
a couple of points.”
“Sincere friend,” said Clarinda, “would be the
one word to describe Malika. If you’re ever in
the need for something, she’ll drop whatever it
is she is doing to help you out.”
Going Their Separate Ways
Both Malika and Nashia realize that they will
both have to go their separate ways upon
graduation and it will truly be the first time they
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have lived apart. Clarinda thought their individual
journeys would begin last year with their arrival
at KU.
“When they first went to KU, I thought they would
be in the same building, but not in the same room,
but they decided to,” said Clarinda Baker. “They
said, ‘Mama we’ve been roommates since before
we were born.’ They’ve enjoyed it. They help each
other when one’s not having a good day. One will
encourage the other. It’ll be difficult, because they
won’t have the other person right there in the same
room encouraging the other. The true test will
come this summer when they start to do
internships.”
The twins agree with their mother that the
impending separation will take some time to get
used to.
NashiaMalika
“I think it will be hard,” said Nashia. “I think it’s
hard for most siblings who have been together
for a long time, but I think it will be fine. It’s a
natural thing to separate after a little while.”
Nashia’s twin completely agreed. “We’ve been
together our whole lives,” said Malika. “Through
grade school, high school and college we’ve
been together, but I think it’ll be all right when
we separate.”
No matter where their respective lives and
careers may take them, Nashia and Malika can
count on the other Baker sister, as well as their
parents, for support and encouragement. The
passion and determination that the Baker twins
have learned through running will also surely
make them successful in their future
endeavors.
EVENTPLACE PLACE
CROSS
COUNTRY
RESULTS
2014
Roy Griak Invitational
2013
Bob Timmons Classic
Rim Rock Classic
Big 12 Championship
NCAA Midwest Regional
93rd
6th
T14th
28th
50th
217th
13th
T14th
32nd
46th
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