Four to Join U-M Track and Field / Cross Country Hall of Fame
9/19/2017 2:30:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- As the University of Michigan track and field program looks to the future with its world-class facility slated to open this winter, it is also set to celebrate its storied past with the induction of four former Wolverine standouts into its Hall of Fame in January.
Co-head coaches Jerry Clayton and James Henry announced Tuesday (Sept. 19) plans to induct Cindy Ofili (2013-16), Jeff Porter (2004-07), Todd Steverson (1983-86) and Anna (Willard) Grenier (2007) into the program's Hall of Fame on the evening of Friday, Jan. 19.
The quartet -- which combined accounts for three national championships, 11 current school records, a former collegiate record, a former American record, numerous All-America honors and 15 Big Ten titles -- will be inducted the evening of January 19 and recognized again at the January 20 Simmons-Harvey Quad meet against rivals Ohio State and Michigan State as well as perennial national contender Arkansas.
"We are honored to welcome Cindy, Jeff, Todd and Anna as the newest members of our Hall of Fame," Clayton said. "This institution has one of the longest and most storied track and field and cross country histories of any program in the country, and these four individuals played key roles in some of Michigan's greatest moments and achievements. They truly embody the best of Michigan track and field and cross country."
The induction class illustrates Michigan track and field's historical strength across numerous different disciplines. Ofili and Porter were both national champions and multiple-time Big Ten winners in the hurdles; Steverson was a four-time conference champion in the long sprints; and Willard made the most of a single season in the maize and blue with a steeplechase national title and collegiate record.
This will be the first class of Hall of Fame inductees for the newly combined men's and women's program. In years past, the two genders hosted separate induction ceremonies.
"Each of our four inductees is among the best of the best from their event groups in school history," Henry said. "We are proud of our history at Michigan. It is a history that we now share and celebrate together as a combined program between the two genders, and it is a history that is the foundation of who we are as we enter an exciting new era in our new world-class facilities this year."
Details on the location and time of the Jan. 19 induction ceremony will be announced later this fall.
More information on each of the inductees can be found below.
Sprints and hurdles / Ypsilanti, Mich.
• Lettered for Michigan in 2013-16
• Holds school records in six events
• 2016 NCAA Indoor 60-meter hurdles champion
• Five-time All-American (60-meter and 100-meter hurdles)
• Five-time Big Ten Champion (60-meter and 100-meter hurdles)
• Two-time Big Ten Athlete of the Year
• One of two women in Big Ten history to win three consecutive 100-meter hurdles
• Fourth in 2016 Rio Olympics 100-meter hurdles final
Jeff Porter
Sprints and hurdles / Somerset, N.J.
• Lettered for Michigan in 2004-07
• 2007 NCAA Indoor 60-meter hurdles champion
• Three-time All-American (60-meter and 110-meter hurdles)
• Three-time Big Ten Champion (60-meter and 110-meter hurdles)
• Big Ten Medal of Honor winner
• Two-time Olympian in the 110-meter hurdles in 2012 and 2016
• Between indoor and outdoor hurdle events, ranked top-20 in the world 13 times
• 11-time USATF Championships finalist (60-meter and 110-meter hurdles)
Todd Steverson
Sprints / Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Lettered for Michigan in 1983-86
• Four-time Big Ten Champion (400 meters, 500 meters, 600 yards)
• Scored at the Big Ten Championships in seven of eight possible seasons
• Owns school records in 400 meters, 500 meters, 600 yards, 4x400 relay and 4x800 relay
• Twice broke indoor Big Ten Championship records en route to titles
• Multiple-time NCAA Championships competitor.
Anna (Willard) Grenier
Distance / Greenwood, Maine
• Lettered for Michigan in 2007 after transferring from Brown
• 2007 NCAA Outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase champion
• Former collegiate and American steeplechase record-holder
• Ran legs of two collegiate-record relay teams at Penn Relays
• Three-time Big Ten Champion
• Ranked top-10 in Michigan history in steeplechase, 800 and 5,000 meters
• Olympian in 2008 and two-time IAAF World Championships qualifier
• Only American woman in history to run sub-9:30 in steeplechase, sub-4:00 over 1,500 meters and sub-2:00 over 800 meters
• Three-time USATF Champion
Players Mentioned
