Anna Pierce
 Anna Pierce after winning the 1500 m at the 2009 London Grand Prix |
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 31, 1984 Portland, Maine |
| Residence | Mammoth Lakes, California |
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) |
| Weight | 120 pounds (54 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  United States |
| Event(s) | Steeplechase, 1500 m, 800 m, One mile |
| College/university team | Michigan Wolverines, Brown Bears |
| Coached by | Terrence Mahon |
| Achievements and titles | |
| World finals | 2007, Steeplechase 8th 2009, 1500 m, 6th |
| Olympic finals | 2008, Steeplechase, 10th |
| Personal best(s) |
800 m: 1:58.80 |
Anna Pierce (née Willard) (born March 31, 1984 in Portland, Maine) is an American middle distance runner.
Contents |
[edit] Personal
Pierce grew up on a farm in Greenwood, Maine. She took up running as a high school student at Telstar High School in Bethel, Maine.[1] She competed as an undergraduate for Brown University and as a graduate student for the University of Michigan.[2] Because Pierce 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.[3]
Anna became engaged to fellow American steeplechaser Jonathan Pierce at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials.[4] She is especially known for dyeing her hair unusual colors. Her hair was blonde with pink streaks at the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials, and she dyed it purple before the 2008 Summer Olympics.[3]
[edit] Career
Pierce set the U.S. 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.[5][6]
Pierce's U.S. steeplechase record was eclipsed by teammate Jennifer Barringer at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Pierce 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, Pierce focused more on her 1500 m and 800 m racing. She was victorious at the USA Indoor 1500 m, and the 800 m at the Reebok Grand Prix and a Golden League meet in Paris. Pierce chose to run only in the 1500 m at the World Championships in Berlin, finishing 6th with a time of 4:06.19.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Gerweck, Jim (November 2009). "Anna Willard: More Than Just a Steeplechaser". Running Times Magazine. http://www.runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=18053. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
- ^ Interview with Anna Willard
- ^ a b Heuser, John (August 3, 2008). "Willard Enjoys Olympic Moment". The Ann Arbor News. http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1217745629212460.xml&coll=2. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
- ^ W Steeplechase Final: Pierce 9:27.59 AR (with VIDEO)
- ^ Willard sets US record in 3,000m steeplechase
- ^ Springer, Shira (August 17, 2008). "Willard is drawing on her roots". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/sports/articles/2008/08/17/Willard_is_drawing_on_her_roots/?page=2. Retrieved 2009-07-24.[dead link]
- ^ Monti, David (August 10, 2009). "Pierce Excited To Focus On 1500M At World Champs". Race Results Weekly. http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?http://www.runnersweb.com/running/news_2009/rw_news_20090810_RRW_Willard.html. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
