WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Ohio Northern junior Anna Schatzle, Franklin County High School Class of 2019, competed in the women's pole vault at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships last Friday at JDL Fast Track.

Schatzle qualified for the NCAA Championships meet after placing in the top 20 nationally by clearing a career-high mark of 3.72 meters in the Polar Bear Final Qualifier March 4. That height set her as the No. 19 seed for the national meet and ranks fifth-best all-time at ONU.

On Friday, Schatzle was unable to clear the bar on all three of her attempts at 3.55 meters after passing on the opening height of 3.4 meters.

ONU track and field head coach Jason Maus still came away proud of what Schatzle was able to achieve during the indoor season.

"It's a big step for a young woman to be in the top 20 in the country and make the national meet. That's a huge accomplishment," Maus said. "This experience becomes a good building block. It's hard to get here and performing here is another step. I know today is frustrating and disappointing for her, but she's done a great job all season, and she'll bounce back. This will fuel her for the outdoor season for sure. Anna is a great representative of our program, and she should be proud that she's here."

Schatzle was also named All-Great Lakes Region in women's indoor track and field by the USTFCCCA. To earn All-Region honors, an athlete must be one of the top five individuals in their respective region on the final TFRRS Descending Order List.

This marks the first indoor All-Region accolade for Schatzle, who earned the honor in the outdoor pole vault in 2021.

As a team, the Polar Bears finished third at the 2022 OAC Indoor Championships. The Polar Bears begin the outdoor portion of their schedule on March 26 at the Indiana Wesleyan Invitational.

Courtesy of,
onusport.com/WesMayberry