Roisin Willis Rising Toward Stardom In Wisconsin

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Freshman Roisin Willis knows that she ran the race of her life March 10 at The Armory in New York, but she doesn't remember much of it, especially the final 200 meters.  

"There was so much going on, and so much noise," Willis said. "I just felt the tape, and it was kind of like, 'What have I done?'"

It was a breakout moment for the young runner from Stevens Point, Wis.

Not only did she win the the New Balance Nationals Indoor championship 800-meter title, she was an off-the-radar challenger taking on a newly minted American record-holder.  

"It was big surprise," Willis' coach, Nate Olson, said.

POST-RACE INTERVIEW

All eyes were focused on New Jersey sensation Athing Mu of the Trenton Track Club, and rightfully so. Mu had recently won the U.S. title in the 600 meters and broken the World U-20 record along the way. 

Mu seemed like the safest bet of the weekend at NBNI. The biggest question going into the race was whether Mu would break two minutes, and by how much?

Willis was the youngest runner to go to the starting line for the championship 800 meters. She had only run the event once prior since moving into high school.

But the ninth grader from Wisconsin did have some things going for her. She has her mother's genetics and an understanding of racing that is beyond her years.

Willis woke up March 10 with a clear mind and a focus.

"(That's) kind of the best combination going into a race," she said.

Olson gave her some familiar and sound advice. This race, like all other races, was an opportunity to learn, he said.   

So 2 minutes and 5.70 seconds later, when Willis' body hit the finish tape, she learned she was the indoor national champion and that she had broken the freshman class national indoor record in the process.

But more than that, she learned that she was capable of not only running against elite competition, but also winning. 

Mu might have languished through a rare off day, but Willis battled past her on the final home straightaway. Mu finished second in 2:05.86, not far off her indoor best.

"I think she learned a lot about herself and it was a huge confidence boost," Olson said. "I think the rest of the country kind of learned something, too. She's not going to back down."

So who exactly is Willis?

The tall and lanky runner with a mouth full of braces hails from Stevens Point, a town of about 26,300 people located 90 miles due west of Green Bay. The community has produced two U.S. distance running legends – Suzy Favor Hamilton and Chris Solinsky. 

Olson describes his star runner as quiet and humble. Her personality shines brightest when she runs.

"When she gets around her teammates and friends, that's when you see her smile come on her face," Olson said. "When you see her on the track, then you see that different side, that fierce competitor, the kind of kid that you would want walking down a dark alley with you."

Growing up, Willis tried gymnastics, swimming, all the typical sports.

"Nothing else really stuck, and I wasn't really good at anything," she said. "Running came a little bit more easily to me."

Running is in her blood. Willis' mom is Breeda Dennehy-Willis, a professional distance runner and Olympian. She competed in the 5,000 meters for Ireland in the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney and was active on the roads and in track for more than two decades.

Roisin Willis got her start running in elementary school, racing primarily in the 100, 200 and 400 meters. At an early age, Willis' mom reached out to Olson, seeking his guidance to help craft her daughter's speed.

Olson carries a lofty running resume himself. In high school at Stevens Point, he ran with Solinsky, the former American 10,000-meter record holder. Olson was a top NCAA Division III sprinter at Wisconsin-La Crosse, and his dad, Mike Olson, coached Favor-Hamilton, the highly-decorated Wisconsin star who won nine NCAA titles and made three Olympic teams. 

Olson has been a big part of Roisin's running journey, working with her since she was 7 years old.

"It's exciting for me," Olson said. "It's such a cool opportunity to coach Roisin here. It's neat for the community to have another distance phenom coming through."

Willis doesn't consider herself a distance runner, like her mom, but prefers to focus on the sprints and middle distances.

Olson said it's her range that has made her such an elite runner at a young age. This past indoor season, her first as a high schooler, she ran personal bests of 56.4 in the 400,  25.97 in the 200 and 8.23 in the 60-meter dash. Last fall, she finished fourth at the WIAA Division 1 state cross country meet in 18:30.3.

As an eighth grader last spring, Willis won the Junior High Mile at New Balance Nationals Outdoor in 4:59.18.

"I've never seen an athlete that can do it all," Olson said. "(Someone) that can literally be one the fastest in the state from the 200 all the way up to the 2-mile. That’s what's so unique about her. It makes training her fun and challenging."

This spring, Olson said people can expect Willis to run some fast times in the 800.

This Saturday, Willis will run at the Distance Night in Palatine, in Illinois. The rest of the season she'll continue to work on her speed.

Since winning the national title a month ago, Willis has become a bit more well-known.

In the community of Stevens Point, she's on target to become the next big name.

"There's a big tradition here. A lot of people follow the sport," Olson said. "There's little girls now, including my own kids, that look up to her and want to be the next Roisin, which is super cool."