Ashland University redshirt-freshman Lindsay Baker placed sixth in the world in the shot put at the IAAF World U20 Championships on Tuesday (July 11) in Tampere, Finland.
Her throw of 15.79 meters in the morning round placed her in the finals, which took place in the evening. Her top throw in the finals of 15.67 meters was the sixth-best mark and made Baker the top American finisher at the event.
"Finishing sixth in the world is certainly a huge accomplishment," Logan said. "It should be noted that with all the great athletes that have come before us at Ashland in all events, she's the first one to compete at a junior world championships in the history of the school. The future is bright and Eagle Nation couldn't be more proud."
Baker, who competed only as an unattached athlete in her first year at Ashland, qualified with a second place finish at the USATF Junior Outdoor Nationals in Bloomington, Ind. in June.
"She has been training now for 12 straight months and it's unparalleled, very difficult to do," said AU head track & field coach Jud Logan. "She started last July getting prepared for her freshman year. To have the big throw at Jesse Owens (17.11 meters) that ranked her tops in the world, to making the team at juniors with the second-best throw of her life."
Her top outdoor throw as an unattached athlete last year would have won the NCAA Division II national championship. She will begin competing as an Eagle in full in the 2018-19 school year.
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