Anna

Willard

Career Highlights

2008 Olympic Trials champion; 2007 USA Outdoor runner-up; 2007 NCAA Outdoor steeplechase champion; 5-time Big 10 Outdoor champion in two seasons

Willard made her move with 600m to in the 3,000m steeplechase and took the lead over the water barrier at the 2008 Olympic Trials. She quickly gapped second and third, and at the bell the winner seemed clear and Willard went on to win in 9:27.59 to break the American record, posting the fastest time ever on U.S. soil in the process...Willard finished less than one-tenth of a second out of first place at the 2007 USA Outdoor Championships in the 3,000m steeplechase...Her time of 9:34.72 is the second fastest run by an American in 2007...The runner-up finish highlighted a season for Willard that saw an NCAA Outdoor steeplechase championship, an NCAA Mideast Regional championship and a Big 10 Outdoor championship in the 1,500m and 5,000m competing for the University of Michigan...In two seasons at Michigan, she earned five Big 10 Outdoor titles...fiancé', former Stanford steeplechaser Jon Pierce, proposed on June 28, 2008 at the 2008 Olympic Trials.

Competition Results:
2008: Olympic Trials champion (9:27.59 AR)...1st at Cardinal Invite (9:37.73)
2007: 2nd at USA Outdoors (9:34.72)...8th in heats at World Outdoors (9:48.62)...NCAA Outdoor champion (9:38.08)...NCAA Mideast Regional champion (9:44.08)...Big 10 champion 1,500m (4:15.93) and 5,000m (16:23.57).
2006: NCAA Mideast Regional champion steeplechase (9:44.88)...Big 10 Outdoor champion steeplechase (9:57.90), 1,500m (4:15.93) and 5,000m (16:23.57).

Olympic Experience

• 1-time Olympian;
• Olympic Games Beijing 2008, 9th (3000m Steeplechase - Women)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2010 – 4th (800m (Indoor) - Women)
• Years of participation: 800m (Indoor) - Women 2010; 1500m - Women 2009; 3000m Steeplechase - Women 2007
• Top finish: 4th – 2010 (800m (Indoor) - Women)