Michigan's Willard Named Women's Top Penn Performer
5/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Graduate/senior Anna Willard (Greenwood, Maine/Telstar Regional HS) of the University of Michigan women's track and field team was named the Penn Relays Women's Top Performer (May 1). Willard is the first Wolverine to boast the accolade.
Willard
Willard assisted the Wolverines to break two relay records, claiming titles in the 4x800- and 4x1500-meter relays. In capturing the 4x800m relay title, the Wolverines posted a collegiate record time of 8:18.78, shattering a 23-year record set by Tennessee (8:20.22). The Maize and Blue posted a first-place time of 17:15.62 in the 4x1500m relay that broke a 17-year old collegiate record set by Villanova (17:18.10).
In the 4x1500m relay, Willard ran the second leg with a split time of 4:13.9 -- the fastest amongst the field of runners.
On the final day of competition, Willard ran the third leg for U-M in the 4x800m relay, clocking in a split time of 2:04.0 -- the second-quickest amongst the Wolverines -- as Michigan placed first with a time of 8:18.78.
Willard, Nicole Edwards (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey), fifth-year senior co-captain Katie Erdman (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac HS) and sophomore Geena Gall (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS) ran on both the record-setting relays.
Willard and the Wolverines return to Ann Arbor to host their only outdoor home meet of the season, the Len Paddock Invitational, Friday and Saturday (May 4-5) on Ferry Field.
Contact: Joseph Conrad (734) 763-4423
