Roisin Willis

Roisin Willis (born 6 August 2004)[1] is an American middle-distance runner. She won the gold medal in the 800 meters at the 2022 World Under-20 Championships, adding second title for the women's 4x400 m relay.

Roisin Willis
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (2004-08-06) 6 August 2004
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event(s)Middle-distance running
College teamStanford Cardinal
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  United States
World U20 Championships
Gold medal – first place2022 Cali800 m
Gold medal – first place2022 Cali4x400 m relay

Willis is a two-time NCAA champion.

Personal life

Her mother is Irish track athlete Breeda Dennehy-Willis, who competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Roisin attended Stevens Point High School in Wisconsin.[2] After graduation from high school, she attended Stanford University, where she participates in cross country and track and field.[3]

Career

Willis was successful as a high-school athlete. She is the U.S. high-school indoor 800 meters record holder. Her outdoor mark of 2:00.78 recorded in 2021 is a U.S. under-18 record.[4] She holds Wisconsin state records in 400 m, 800 m and 1600 m. Willis qualified to run in the 2020 US Olympic trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, after running 2:00.78 for the 800 m at the Trials of Miles New York City. At the Olympic trials she reached the semi-finals, finishing 13th.[5]

She took silver in the 800 m at the 2022 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships,[6] Two months later, she won the event at the World U20 Championships held in Cali, Colombia, breaking the championship record with a personal best of 1:59.13.[7] It was the first time she ran sub-two minutes in an 800 m race.[8] She added gold for the women's 4 x 400 m relay with an official split time of 51.34.[9]

2023–present

Willis won the 800 m in a time of 1:59.93 at the 2023 NCAA Division 1 Indoor T&F Championships in Albuquerque, NM, setting a personal best, and meet and facility records in the process. She was also a member of the Stanford team that won the distance medley relay.[1][10]

Achievements

NCAA titles

References
  1. "Roisin WILLIS – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  2. "Meet the Six High Schoolers Who Have Qualified to Run at the Olympic Trials". Runners World.
  3. "Roisin Willis' commitment to Stanford caps a year of accomplishments". WSAW.com.
  4. "Halfmiler Roisin Willis Riding A Hot Streak". Trackandfieldnews.com.
  5. "On the rise:Roisin Willis (US High school 800m record holder)". citiusmag.com.
  6. "2022 Cross Country Roster". Gostandord.com.
  7. "Roisin Willis wins 800-meter gold medal at World Junior Championships". WSAW-TV.
  8. "Super Roisin Willis wins World U20 Championships 800m gold medal with 1:59.13CR". World-track.org.
  9. "Interview:Roisin Willis after winning gold at the world athletics u20 championships 800m". Citiusmag.com.
  10. "Phenoms Katelyn Tuohy and Roisin Willis Shine at NCAA Indoors". LetsRun.com. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
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