The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 9, 2003 - 11
TRACK
Continued from Page 10
other? Perhaps, but these running sensa-
tions have obviously shown that "divide
and conquer" is not the way they
choose to play the game.
Foreigners in Our Midst
Although Brannen and Willis may
represent the nationally-loved athletic
program at Michigan, both have their
hearts and homes elsewhere on the
globe. Brannen hails from Ontario,
Canada, while Willis comes from
Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
"The (running) competition and the
schooling are just much better in the
States than in Canada," Brannen said.
Ironically, Brannen didn't start run-
ning until he hit high school.
"I used to play hockey actually,"
Brannen said. "And then through con-
nections with people I knew, I started
going to the track club"
Throughout high school, the sopho-
more racked up awards and records for
his phenomenal running abilities,
including becoming a three-time
Ontario champion in the 1,500-meter
run and two-time Ontario champion in
the 800-meter run.
Willis got his start on the track at a
much younger age.
"My brother is eight years older than
me and he always did track, so I started
when I was four years old," Willis said.
According to Willis, there is never a
shortage of beautiful places to run in
New Zealand. In fact, one of the run-
ner's normal training courses goes right
through one of the areas where "The
Lord of the Rings" trilogy was filmed.
But when it came time to choose a
university, Willis' brother encouraged
him to come to the United States.
"My brother actually went to a col-
lege in Colorado, Wesley College, and
he was a Division II champion," Willis
said. "I chose Michigan because of the
coaches - I knew Ron (Warhurst)
would be a good coach for me and I
knew I would get to run with Nate."
Amaizin' Blue Achievements
Since the boys arrived at Michigan,
each has demonstrated his respective
talents in the running domain.
After training together for two
months in the summer of last year,
Brannen and Willis ran together com-
petitively for the first time on Michi-
gan's cross-country team in the fall.
Often finishing one after the other, the
pair led the team to an eighth place fin-
ish at the NCAA Championships.
"Don't let your
HAIR
e ahead of
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"Nate helped in cross-country espe- Willis explained that each has his own teammates, neither runner lets success
cially because we're both pretty inexpe- unique way of getting there. go to his head.
rienced for that event," Willis said. "To "We're totally different runners," "Nate and Nick do a great job of han-
keep your concentration for 10,000 Willis said. "Nate's got a lot more dling their success," Waits said. "Great
meters is tough, but runners don't need to
we had each other to talk about how fast
run with. It doesn't they can run - they
really bother me at all just show it."
if he beats me, and "I actually look
I'm sure it doesn't down to him," said 6-
bother him if I beat foot-2 teammate Kaj
him." Johansson jokingly
During the indoor about 5-f&t-9 Bran-
track season, both nen, "No, I actually
runners continued to look up to him on the
flourish. Brannen track - he just acts
became the Big Ten like another guy on
and NCAA champion the team."
in the 800-meter run, Off the track, Bran-
while. Willis was nen and Willis are
named Big Ten Con- close friends and
ference Freshman of teammates describe
the Year and won the them as "great guys to
3000-meter run at the be around"
Big Ten Champi- , -t.' "We can go hang
onships. Brannen and Akout and we have a
Willis also became great friendship
the fifth and sixth between us that
Wolverines ever to makes it a lot easier
run a sub-four minute on the track," Bran-
mile, respectively. nen said.
"I think with Nick
here this year, it's Future Gold
really helped both of Medalists?
us achieve what we've This Wednesday,
wanted to," said Bran- Brannen and Willis
nen about his step up will fly to Sacramento
in achievements from and compete in the
last year. "I felt like NCAA Outdoor Track
when (All-American Championships. Bran-
Alan) Webb was here, nen will compete in
we were just racing the 800-meter run,
each other. But this and Willis will take
year with Willis, part in the 1,500 meter
we're really working run. Both want to win,
together and pulling SETH LOWER/Dily but Willis - who has
each other along." Nick Willis (left) and Nate Brannen will head to the NCAA Championships yet to win an NCAA
The outdoor track Wednesday to compete in the 1,500 and 800-meter runs, respectively. championship -
season has also treated the two favor- explosive speed than I do. He's stronger stressed that he would be content even if
ably. Brannen won the 800-meter run than me, yet I'm bigger and have a bit he didn't come in first.
at the Big Ten Championships, and more endurance - but we pretty much If Brannen wins in the 800-meter
Willis secured the 1,500-meter title at come out the same in our races." run, it will be his second NCAA Cham-
the same event. Just last weekend, both The runners don't rely on only natu-
qualified with their 800-meter (Bran- ral ability to achieve such fast times.
nen) and 1,500-meter (Willis) times to Warhurst said both run between 45 and H lu
earn spots at the NCAA Outdoor Track 55 miles a week during cross-country.gu
Championships, which start Wednes- That mileage is intensified during the
day in Sacramento, Calif. indoor and outdoor track seasons,
"They're both very competitive and increasing to 75-80 miles a week.
they're not afraid to race people," Having already achieved a lot at
Warhurst said. "Racing at this level, you Michigan, both runners serve as role heigh
have to be very strong emotionally and models for their teammates.
mentally. You have to have a tremendous "Having Nate and Nick on the teamS e
desire or you'll just fall by the wayside." does nothing but make everyone better,"
Although Brannen and Willis usually sophomore Seth Waits said.
cross the finish line with similar times, According to Warhurst and other
pionship title, as he already holds the
indoor title.
But the runners are looking farther
ahead than just the nationals for their
next goal. Shortly after returning from "
Sacramento, Brannen and Willis will
head to Europe for two weeks and try to
achieve qualifying times set by their
respective countries for the 2004
Olympics. Warhurst and the runners
believe they havea good shot.
"Nate will probably run the 800,"
Warhurst said. "And then if Nick runs
3:36, he'll probably get chosen for the
1,500."
"It's a dream of mine," said Willis
about going to the Olympics. "New
Zealand has had three world record
holders and Olympic gold medalists in
the 1,500. I don't know if it's whether I
feel it's my responsibility, but I'd cer-
tainly like to keep the tradition going if
I'm able to."
Brannen also dreams of one day earn-.
ing a gold medal in the Olympics for
Canada, and said that he doesn't think
this goal is too big for him to achieve.
"You set goals and once you achieve
them, the goals don't seem as big as
they were before," Brannen said.
"Thinking about it beforehand, you
think, 'Wow, that'd be really amazing to
accomplish,' but once you do, it's just
another thing. My goals just keep get-
ting higher and higher."
Brannen and Willis may be celebri-
ties in the track world, but off the field
they are just normal college students,
trying to enjoy their time at Michigan.
"They're just like the rest of us, they
just have a different mentality," Moore
said. "They have to pick their times to
have fun and when not to - they
understand that getting out and doing
things is important though. It's part of
college."
For all of their achievements on the
track, Brannen and Willis still strive in
their everyday endeavors.
After all, the duo boasts something
any college man would kill for - a
clean house and a babe-magnet accent.
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