College Freshman Breaks Sprint Record in Debut Race

Anna Roessner ran faster than any freshman in her conference's history on her very first day of college competition. In December, the Hillsdale College sprinter blazed through the 60-meter dash in 7.36 seconds, breaking the Great Midwest Athletic Conference record and claiming the top spot in all of NCAA Division II.

By the end of her indoor season, Roessner had collected Conference Freshman of the Year honors and a championship title. She's currently ranked first in the conference for the 100-meter and second in the 200-meter, with outdoor nationals still ahead of her.

Her journey to the top started with a three-hour round trip twice a week. As a high school junior, Roessner drove 90 minutes each way to train at an indoor track club in Dayton, Ohio, where coach Ty Waters runs intense college-level workouts completely free of charge.

"He would have us dead on the ground after every rep," Roessner said. "But you would always leave practice feeling super accomplished because you knew it was going to help you in the meets."

The grueling commitment paid off. Roessner won her high school state championship in the 100-meter and broke the state record her senior year. She still holds four records at her high school.

At Hillsdale, assistant coach Brian Thill says Roessner's performance at the conference championships proved she has everything you want in a competitor. The conference featured four of the nation's top 12 sprinters, making her win even more impressive.

Why This Inspires

Roessner's teammate and roommate, freshman Adella Schmoll, says what sets Roessner apart isn't just natural talent. She prioritizes sleep, manages stress, and uses her time efficiently, showing that championship performance comes from daily discipline in the small things.

Senior teammate Francesa Federici, who has six years of track experience, has even learned technical pointers from the freshman. The team's friendly competition and genuine support for each other creates an environment where everyone wants to see their teammates succeed.

Roessner is already setting her sights on outdoor nationals and the All-American award, an elite honor given only to top performers at NCAA championships. With three more years of college competition ahead, Coach Thill believes she's just beginning to build her legacy as a Charger.