Baker-Schlendering breaks 20-year old high jump record to lead Women's Indoor Track and Field at Hillsdale (Mich.) Wide Track Classic
January 23, 2026
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Sophomore Avery Baker-Schlendering (Freeport, Maine) broke Ohio Northern's nearly two-decade old high jump record as the Polar Bear women shined at Hillsdale College's Wide Track Classic Friday.
The Basics
- The Polar Bears finished 3rd of 9 teams with 114.5 points.
- Record: Ohio Northern (14-4 Overall).
- The event included eight teams from NCAA Divisions DII and III and NAIA.
- Findlay won the team title with 174 points, Hillsdale (Mich.) was second with 161.5 points, Siena Heights (Mich.) was fourth with 62.5 points, Trine (Ind.) was fifth with 29 points, Adrian (Mich.) was sixth with 12 points, Cleary (Mich.) was seventh with 9 points and Albion (Mich.) and Olivet (Mich.) tied for eighth with five points each.
- Venue: Biermann Athletic Center - Hillsdale, Mich.
Top ONU Performers
- Baker-Schlendering cleared a career-best 1.72 meters to win the high jump and break the school record.
- Sophomore Allie Locke (Lancaster) won the weight throw, throwing 14.77 meters.
- Junior Elise Eberhart (Barberton) finished 2nd in the open shot put at 11.33 meters.
- Senior Riley Heitkamp (Fort Loramie) finished 3rd in the high jump by clearing 1.59 meters.
- Junior AnnaSophia Gower (Perrysburg) finished 3rd in the 3000-meter run, in 10:50:09.
- Junior Katie Floyd (Swanton) came 3rd in the open shot put, throwing 11.21 meters.
- Sophomore Tatum Walsh (Lima/Bath) came 3rd in the 400m dash in 59.75 seconds.
Notables
- Baker-Schlendering broke the high jump record of 1.70 meters set by Sara McGinnis on Jan. 28, 2006 - just five days shy of its 20th anniversary.
- Locke's weight throw of 14.77m puts her in 8th place in ONU history in the event.
- Sophomore Je'Leycia Procter (Dayton/Early College) is now tied for seventh place in school history with her :09.41 in the 60m hurdles.
- Freshman Danika Denman (Fremont/Ross) ran a 9.42 in the 60m hurdles, placing her at 8th all-time in ONU's history of the event.
- Baker-Schlendering has now won all three of her high jump competitions this season.
- Head Coach Jason Maus is in his 17th year at Ohio Northern and is 616-180-1 in women's indoor track and field for a winning percentage of .774. He is ONU's all-time winningest coach in track and field history.
Up Next
- The Polar Bears will return to action Jan. 30 when they host the annual Joe Banks Invitational.
