Background
Willard grew up on a farm in Greenwood, Maine.
Willard grew up on a farm in Greenwood, Maine.
Brown University; University of Michigan.
She took up running as a high school student at Telstar High School in Bethel, Maine. She competed as an undergraduate for Brown University and as a graduate student for the University of Michigan. Because Willard missed a track season at Brown due to injury, she had not exhausted her athletic eligibility prior to graduation.
Therefore, she was able to compete for Michigan in 2007 as a graduate student.
She is especially known for dyeing her hair unusual colors. Her hair was blonde with pink streaks at the 2008 United States. Olympic trials, and she dyed it purple before the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Willard set the United States. women"s record for the 3000 meter steeplechase of 9:27.56 at the 2008 United States Olympic track and field trials on July 3, 2008 in Eugene, Oregon en route to qualifying for the United States Olympic team Willard"s United States. steeplechase record was eclipsed by teammate Jennifer Barringer at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Willard qualified for the Olympic final by finishing sixth in her heat, and placed tenth in the final with a time of 9:25.63.
In 2009, Anna focused more on her 1500 m and 800 m racing. She was victorious at the United States of America Indoor 1500 m, and the 800 m at the Reebok Grand Prix and a Golden League meet in Paris. Anna chose to run only in the 1500 m at the World Championships in Berlin, finishing 6th with a time of 4:06.19.
Event Result Venue Date
1000m independent
2:45.28 Boston (United States of America) 13.02.
1500m 4:26.61 Palo Alto (United States of America) 03.04.
Mile independent 4:45.33 Boston (United States of America) 30.01.