Roisin Willis
United States
Personal Bests
Mile
4:43.11
2/15/2025
Distance Medley
10:38.93
2/14/2025
600 Metres
1:25.74
1/17/2025
1500 Metres
4:13.31
4/14/2023
Distance Medley
10:49.30
2/24/2023
Recent Mentions
Back on the podcast is Roisin Willis!
Roisin competes for Stanford University, where she has been absolutely dominant.
She's a 2xNCAA Indoor Champion (800m/DMR), a Four-time All-American, the School-record holder in the indoor 800, 4x400, DMR; and outdoor DMR. She was also the World U20 800 Champion in 2022. She also won in the 4x400.
In 2024, Roisin was the runner-up in the 800m, right behind her teammate Juliette Whittaker! She also ran in the 2024 US Olympic Trials in the 800m, this was her second appearance at the US Olympic Trials after also qualifying in 2020.
Back in high school, Roisin was also dominate and to this day is the national high school indoor record-holder for the 800m.
She's run 52.64 (400m), 1:27.20 (600m), 1:59.13 in the 800m, and 4:13.31 in the 1500m.
In today's conversation, Roisin takes me through her past year of running, how she's doing, weather, XC courses, music taste, off-season hobbies, falling back in love with the sport, her ambitions for the coming year, and so much more!
This one was honestly very free-flowing which are always my favorite podcasts to listen to on runs. So, with that being said, go lace up your shoes and join Roisin and I for a fun 50min convo!
Tap into the Roisin Willis Special.
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it.
If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!
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Show notes56m
"Cherish the people around you. Coming to Stanford and having such an amazing team has made such a difference for me in the sport and just how I view it...This sport is tough. Some days it's so rewarding and you feel like you're on top of the world but then other days, it crushes you. Having that great support system and realizing that's the best thing you can gain from the sport. I've won a lot of races but at the end of the day, the people I've met and the friends I've made is most important."
Stanford sophomore Roisin Willis, the 2023 NCAA indoor 800m champion and a New Balance NIL athlete, caught up with Kyle Merber to chat about how her first two years of college have gone and her hopes for preparing for a second U.S. Olympic Trials run. She was previously a guest on the show as a high school senior when she won the 2022 New Balance Nationals indoor 800m title.
Host: Kyle Merber | @kylemerber on Instagram
Guest: Roisin Willis | @roisin.willis on Instagram
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Today's conversation with Roisin Willis is one of the most important and impactful conversations I've ever released.
Normally I write fancy bio's about the guest and their accomplishments. Today I just want to say take the time to listen to this conversation and hear Roisin's story. It is impactful beyond words, and I know you will be impacted by it. I'm still shocked at how wise, eloquent, and brave Roisin is for only being eighteen years old. Her courage to speak up and share her story is nothing short of inspiring.
You can listen wherever you find your podcasts by searching, "The Running Effect Podcast."
Lastly, please share this episode with your inner circle of friends, teammates, and family. I know so many people will be brought so much comfort through Roisin's story. Please do us a favor and share it with someone who you know.
Much love
The podcast graphic was done by the talented: Xavier Gallo.
S H O W N O T E S
-Roisin's Instagram Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtcKNTXrtgk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
-GET YOUR SAMPLE PACK OF 2Before: 2before.com
-My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en
Show notes1h 8m
Watch Roisin Willis and Juliette Whittaker battle it out over 800m, breaking the school record and running #2 and #3 all time collegiate bests: https://youtu.be/sMehyaiPStk
Watch additional races and interviews from the Windy City Invite: Windy City Invite Coverage
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"I think that's why we're running so well. We just all push each other to be the best. We realize that none of us will be the one star. We're all going to share this together. I think that's what makes it really special. They just push me to be a better athlete. I'm just glad that we're all willing to race each other all the time and push each other and break the limits of high school running."
In this episode, we speak with Roisin Willis. She is a senior at Stevens Point Area High School in Wisconsin. That’s the same high school that has produced track and field greats like Chris Solinsky and Suzy Favor Hamilton. Roisin is already one of the next big stars. Last year, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials when she ran 2:00.78 at the Trials of Miles NYC meet and then ended up reaching the semifinals in Eugene. The fast times continued this indoor season as she ran 2:00.06 to break the high school girls indoor 800m record. The previous record was 2:01.78 set in 2017 by Sammy Watson. She capped her indoor season with a win in the 800 at New Balance Nationals. Next year she’s taking her talent to Stanford so there’s plenty of excitement about that.
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FINAL SURGE: No matter if you are an athlete or a coach, Final Surge helps plan and attain both short, and long-term training success. Their free online training log is compatible with Garmin, Strava, Polar, Stryd, COROS and a slew of other apps and devices. If you are a coach, Final Surge makes planning and analyzing workouts simple and helps streamline communication with your athletes. If you’re an athlete out there hammering miles and tempo runs solo with no guidance or direction, Final Surge is also here to offer up some world-class training programs. Check out their offerings today: FINALSURGE.COM – USE CODE CITIUS FOR 10% OFF.
THERABODY: Their new RecoveryAir JetBoots are the first of its kind as the world’s most advanced pneumatic compression system ever created. RecoveryAir flushes out metabolic waste more fully and brings back fresh blood to your legs at three times the speed of competitors. Faster cycles mean faster recovery, so you don’t have to wait for..the legs to be feelin' great. For more information and to get a discount visit: https://therabody.com/citius
OREGON22: Friends, more than 100,000 tickets have already been sold for this summer’s World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon (7/15-24). Some of the sessions have sold out. Don’t miss out. Buy your tickets today to see the world’s best athletes in action at the first-ever world outdoor championships being held on U.S. soil. You can get your tickets by visiting WorldChampsOregon22.com/Tickets
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Show notes38m
"Every time we race, records are looking to be broken or new records are looking to be set. Just like us being out there competing against each other, there's definitely a chance of us getting a record each time we go out there."
In this episode, we speak with Sophia Gorriaran. She is a junior at Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island. She’s truly a special athlete who comes from a family of runners yet showcases even more athleticism by being a star on her school’s lacrosse team as well. Last summer, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials and ran her outdoor personal best of 2:02.26 in the first round of the Olympic Trials just five days after she turned 16 years old. This winter, she ran 2:00.58 and finished fourth in the same race against pros and collegiate athletes that Roisin Willis broke the high school record. Sophia also got under Sammy Watson’s previous record from 2017 to put herself at No. 2 on the all-time high school girls 800m list. At New Balance Nationals, she raced the 400, the 800 (where she finished second to Roisin) and mile so she can do it all and the best part is that there’s still an extra year to chase the record.
SUPPORT THE SPONSORS
FINAL SURGE: No matter if you are an athlete or a coach, Final Surge helps plan and attain both short, and long-term training success. Their free online training log is compatible with Garmin, Strava, Polar, Stryd, COROS and a slew of other apps and devices. If you are a coach, Final Surge makes planning and analyzing workouts simple and helps streamline communication with your athletes. If you’re an athlete out there hammering miles and tempo runs solo with no guidance or direction, Final Surge is also here to offer up some world-class training programs. Check out their offerings today: FINALSURGE.COM – USE CODE CITIUS FOR 10% OFF.
THERABODY: Their new RecoveryAir JetBoots are the first of its kind as the world’s most advanced pneumatic compression system ever created. RecoveryAir flushes out metabolic waste more fully and brings back fresh blood to your legs at three times the speed of competitors. Faster cycles mean faster recovery, so you don’t have to wait for..the legs to be feelin' great. For more information and to get a discount visit: https://therabody.com/citius
OREGON22: Friends, more than 100,000 tickets have already been sold for this summer’s World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon (7/15-24). Some of the sessions have sold out. Don’t miss out. Buy your tickets today to see the world’s best athletes in action at the first-ever world outdoor championships being held on U.S. soil. You can get your tickets by visiting WorldChampsOregon22.com/Tickets
🎙️ Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
💵 Pledge any dollar amount to us on Patreon.com/CITIUSMAG or Hit us on Venmo @CITIUSMAG
Show notes39m
Kyle Merber and Chris Chavez host After The Final Lap live from The Armory in New York City for the 2022 New Balance Indoor Nationals. We are joined by special guest host Trayvon Bromell.
– On the final day of the championship meet, we saw Cade Flatt of Benton, Kentucky run the No. 3 U.S. HS boys all-time 800m mark in 1:48.86. He joined us to share why he isn't afraid to talk about going for the high school record.
– Roisin Willis of Stevens Point, Wisconsin continued her incredible indoor season by adding a national title to go along with her indoor 800m record.
– Juliette Whittaker of Mt. De Sales (Maryland) ran the fourth-fastest girls high school mile in 4:37.23 by leading the race wire-to-wire.
– Gary Martin of Archbishop Wood High School (Pennsylvania) won the boys mile in 4:02.34 along with three other boys under 4:03. He's not afraid to talk about sub-four minute mile aspirations.
+ Much more
New Balance Nationals Indoors 2022: You can find live results, entries and a schedule of events here:
https://results.armorytrack.com/meets/11230
For more information on the meet and race videos visit NBNationals.com
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Show notes2h 13m
This week we sit down with the members of 800 United, the new record holders of the U20 4x800m, Bailey Goggans (Texas), Roisin Willis (Wisconsin), Juliette Whittaker (Maryland), and Sophia Gorriaran (Rhode Island). We discuss how the team came together and the feelings behind the open 800 they raced the day before, and the relay. How their careers have been like being high-caliber athletes especially now with the current situation and how they are still finding ways to compete and show off their amazing talents. From family history to training plans to their personal taste in music, we enjoyed getting to know these young women and can't wait to see what other accomplishments they will achieve together and individually.
Show notes1h 14m
Roisin is one of the best middle distance high school runners in US history. As a sophomore she has already run 53 seconds and 2:03 for the 400 and 800 meter runs. These are staggering times that reflect potential to reach the highest levels in the sport. The daughter of an Olympian, hear her talk about what it is like to pursue athletic excellence at such a young age.
Twitter: @roisinwillis_
Instagram: roisin.willis
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Show notes17m