Throwback Thursday: Freshman Roisin Willis Takes 800m Title


Roisin Willis started out 2018-2019 season strong. She placed fourth at the WIAA State meet for cross country. During the indoor season, she won New Balance Nationals Indoors in the 800m.

The outdoor season presented an opportunity for her to run to her first state title. In the 800m, at the 2019 WIAA Track and Field Championship, she laced up her spikes with the number one hip number.

She got out aggressively for the first 100m to take the lead coming off the turn. From there, it was her against herself. As she finished her first lap in 1:02, you can't help but notice how consistent her laps were. She crossed the finish line with her second lap in 1:03. Her efforts shattered the state record and she crossed the line in 2:05.70 seconds. 

A couple weeks later, she won the Brooks PR Invitational in a personal best time of 2:04.86 seconds. She later competed at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships and placed second behind Athing Mu. Willis' stand out performances didn't end there as she dropped the number four all-time 800m at the Boston University Last Chance meet at the end of February. She ran a 2:03.05 and has plenty of time to go after Sammy Watson's  indoor national 800m time of 2:01.78 seconds. 


DIVISION 1 GIRLS 800 METER RUN FINALS	
PLACE	ATHLETE		TEAM	RESULT	WIND	H#
1	Roisin Willis	9	Stevens Point	2:05.68		2
2	Lydia Malecek	10	Onalaska	2:13.43		2
3	Brooke Lytle	12	Waukesha West	2:13.59		2
4	Clare Pitcher	11	Franklin	2:14.17		2
5	Makaila Groves	12	Slinger	2:15.20		1
6	Ella Behling	10	Chippewa Falls	2:15.72		1
7	Annessa Ihde	11	Appleton North	2:15.81		2
8	Kylie Finger	10	Oconomowoc	2:15.88		1