Anna Willis has long been associated with impressive groups, but her journey in the pole vault has somewhat ironically been marked with loneliness.

That’s not the case for her now at South Dakota – “Pole Vault University,” she calls it – and that’s part of the reason the Colorado Springs native could come home this week as an NCAA champion.

“I don’t want to do it alone,” Willis said.

Willis was notably the youngest of four sisters who left a family legacy in the event perhaps unlike any other in Colorado history.

Andrea (The Classical Academy, Class of 2016), Erika (TCA, 2018), Kristina (TCA, 2020) enjoyed a run in pole vault that brought seven state titles along with three silvers. The haul likely would have been even greater had Kristina’s chance to defend her title as a senior not been taken away because of COVID-19.

“Being able to look up to all my sisters and gain experience from them, from their knowledge was super cool and super helpful,” said Anna, who also has an older brother, Alex, who was a multisport athlete at TCA before graduating in 2013. “I couldn’t be more grateful for them. Super cool support system.”

Being part of that legacy was a thrill for Anna, who won a state title and holds TCA’s school record. But her freshman year came after Kristina had graduated, so it was a solitary effort.

She also competed within the halo of TCA’s dominant track and field program, which has captured 14 girls’ team state championships in the past 21 seasons.

While Willis did branch out beyond pole vault at times (she owns the program’s long jump record), most of her time was spent in the pit.

“In high school I didn’t really have too many teammates (in pole vault) and too many teammates at that level I was at at that time,” she said.

So, again, the training was largely spent alone with her coaches – including her father, Steve, who first introduced the idea of pole vaulting with the family after hearing the story of an international competitor who had picked up the sport after growing too tall to continue a career as a gymnast … a description that fit Andrea’s situation.

Willis still found great value in the culture of the Titans’ program.

“I’m honestly just super grateful for coach (Tim) Daggett and just all the coaching staff at TCA in high school,” Willis said. “I wouldn’t even be here without them. Some people may not believe that, but I believe it’s super true. They have given me a good foundation to be able to succeed and be where I’m at. The whole school and the team is just so supportive, so I’m glad I was able to be a part of that.”

At South Dakota, Willis is one of three pole vaulters competing this week at Haywood Field in Eugene, Ore. She is joined by women’s teammate Marleen Mülla (a senior and six-time All-American) and men’s teammate Caelan Harland (the runner-up last year at the USA Track & Field U20 Championships).

They are coached by Derek Miles, a Coyote alum who is a three-time Olympian and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist.

This is Willis’ second trip to outdoor nationals in as many years. She finished fourth last year as a freshman. She was also third in the NCAA indoor championships in March.

It hasn’t all been smooth for Willis, who was diagnosed with a condition that includes dysplasia in both hips that, to fully correct, would likely take her out of competition for two years. She instead has opted for noninvasive physical therapy and specialized training that, to this point, has been effective.

Willis has lofty goals as an athlete and in life in general. Later this summer she’ll compete in the U.S Championships. The Olympic Trials are a goal, as would be an appearance at the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games or perhaps four years later in Brisbane.

As a student she has tackled the ambitious task of double majoring in kinesiology and Spanish with a minor in business administration.

“I love the health care field and I want to help people in any way I can,” said Willis, who envisions a role in medical sales but says she’s interested in so many things that she’s leaving many options open.

This week the focus is pole vault, where a national title is a distinct possibility. Washington junior Hana Moll has the season-best height this year at 15 feet, 10 inches, but should she falter it’s Willis and Moll’s twin sister, Amanda (again, sisters in this sport), who sit tied for second at 15-2.25.

Mülla is ranked fifth, giving the Coyotes a pair of contenders and assuring Willis won’t be attempting this alone.

“I think that definitely helped a ton just having so many pole vaulters and people to gain knowledge and experience from and just having that sense of community around you,” Willis said. “You don’t feel as alone when you’re doing your sport.”

Air Force thrower opens competition

Texas Tanner will compete in the hammer throw at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, with the Air Force senior entering as favorite.

Tanner’s best throw this season was 258 feet, 9 inches, more than four feet better than Iowa junior Ryan Johnson.

Three Falcons have won national championships in track and field – Jim Murphy (5,000 meter, 1963), Dana Pounds (javelin, 2005 and 2006) and Mahala Norris (3,000 steeplechase, 2021). Murphy’s title came at the NCAA Division II level, while Pounds and Norris won D1 championships.

Tanner will compete in the discus at 3:15 p.m. Friday and holds the season’s top mark in that event.