Maine native Willard sets American steeplechase mark

EUGENE, Ore. – Another Mainer is going to the Summer Olympics in China.

Anna Willard set an American record in winning the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9 minutes, 27.58 seconds at Thursday night’s Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore.

Willard’s time bested Lisa Galaviz’s U.S. record of 9:28.75 set last year.

Lindsey Anderson and Jennifer Berringer finished second and third to earn spots on the Olympic team.

This is the first year the Olympics will have a women’s steeplechase, an event that involves jumping over hurdles and water pits during the race.

Willard grew up on a farm in the western Maine town of Greenwood and was a 2002 graduate of Telstar Regional High School in Bethel. After high school, she went to Brown University and now lives in Ann Arbor, Mich., where she attends graduate school at the University of Michigan.

Willard joins mountain biker Adam Craig, born in Exeter, and rowers Anna Goodale of Camden, Elle Logan of Boothbay Harbor and Wyatt Allen of Portland as Mainers who have qualified for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.