Baker Seeks To Keep Climbing D-II Ladder In Pole Vault

Ashland University junior Garrett Baker has made progression in the pole vault a habit.
 
Baker was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American in the event in 2024 – fifth place at indoor nationals, and sixth place at outdoor nationals.
 
In March, Baker took third place at 2025 indoor nationals. And now, he looks to place higher at the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pueblo, Colo. – the men's pole vault being contested on Thursday (May 22) at 1:05 p.m. Eastern as the first event for an Eagle out West.
 
"I'm just excited," said Baker. "I love Colorado. Last time we were there, it was just great time, fun competition. I'm just excited for the opportunity to go back."
 
Baker enters outdoor nationals as the third-ranked men's pole vaulter in the country, with a top mark of 5.49 meters/18-feet-0 – just 0.01 meter/half-inch shy of the school record of 5.50 meters/18-feet-0½ set by Clark Lozier 29 years ago.
 
His top indoor pole vault as an Eagle of 5.44 meters/17-feet-10¼ is a school standard.
 
Baker came to Ashland from nearby Shelby, Ohio. And since going from being a Whippet to an Eagle, his pole vault marks have gotten more and more impressive – indoors going from a top freshman mark of 4.46 meters/14-feet-7½ to a school record, and outdoors going from a best of 5.12 meters/16-feet-9½ in 2023 to being in the verge of another school record.
 
"It's close to home, so I figured it would be an easy transition," Baker said of coming to AU. "I always heard great things about Ashland. It was just pack the bags, move 30 minutes down the road and keep doing what I'm doing."
 
Baker had some inspiration from Katie Moon, a former Eagle pole vaulter, AU Hall of Famer and two-time Summer Olympic medalist (gold and silver).
 
"I had obviously heard she had some huge success here," said Baker, "which led me to Denny Steele. I kind of figured he got her going, maybe he can do the same thing for me."
 
Steele, the long-time Eagle pole vault coach, has seen many a pole vaulter come through campus, and he said Baker is near the top of the list.
 
"He is super-tough mentally," Steele said. "Toughest mentally I've ever seen. The other thing he does, which is super-rare, is he will spend hours every day studying his event. He comes back the next jump day, and he's doing it. He's just different tough, but a real student of the event."
 
Said Baker, "I came in here with pretty minimal knowledge of pole vault. I feel like our ceiling was super-high coming in here, so it was just talk about the sport, figure out how we want to work, and I think we've changed absolutely everything."
 
While Baker has been to nationals multiple times, each one brings with it a level of excitement – and perhaps angst.
 
"National championships are always scary," Steele said. "He doesn't feel pressure, I don't think. He just feels super-confident. So his confidence, combined with his basically warrior mentality, and couple that with all the hours of study on the technique that he does, he's really consistent. He is super-consistent."
 
Looking forward to outdoor nationals, Baker said, "I think those guys ahead of me, they are definitely within reach. Obviously, the goal is to go out there and win. Go out there and win it, and if I come up short, back to the drawing board, keep working.
 
"We're all super-excited, coming off a team (Great Midwest Athletic Conference) win, both men's and women's. I think everybody's at a high right now. Everyone has put in the necessary work. I think it will be a good time for everybody."