Wolverines Add Isabel Wakefield as Assistant Coach
8/17/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan track and field program will add Isabel Wakefield as an assistant coach, Marc Weiser Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Kevin Sullivan announced Monday (Aug. 17). After serving as a volunteer assistant during the 2024-25 season, Wakefield rejoins the Wolverines in a full-time role to work with Michigan's sprints, hurdles and multi-events.
"We are excited to welcome Issy back to our staff in a full-time capacity," Sullivan said. "As a multiple-time All-American while at Duke and international athlete competing for Great Britain, Issy understands how to train and compete at the highest levels in our sport. She brings valuable expertise in the sprints/hurdles and multi-events to our program."
In her lone season as a volunteer assistant with U-M in 2024-25, Wakefield assisted coach Steven Rajewsky with an elite sprint and hurdles group. She helped guide Savannah Sutherland to her second NCAA 400-meter hurdles championship. Sutherland was named Big Ten and United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and first-team All-America for both indoor and outdoor 400-meter hurdles. Sutherland was also recognized as a finalist for collegiate track and field's highest honor, The Bowerman. Wakefield also mentored Aasia Laurencin, who was named first-team All-America for the 60-meter hurdles.
"Issy was instrumental in assisting Coach Rajewsky in the guidance and mentoring of our sprints/hurdles group, which was highlighted by multiple All-American performances by Aasia and a national championship and collegiate record by Savannah," Sullivan said of Wakefield's last stint with the Wolverines. "Issy brings invaluable expertise as a former athlete and coach and will leave a positive and lasting impact on our team."
Wakefield hails from Barnstaple, England. She most recently competed in the England Athletics Senior Performance Program, where she was one of 30 athletes selected with realistic potential to progress to the Olympics and World Championships. In 2023, she captured a pair of medals in the 100-meter hurdles, earning gold at the England Athletics National Championships and silver at the British Athletics National Championships. Wakefield posted marks in the all-time top 25 of British Athletics in the 60-meter hurdles, 100-meter hurdles, pentathlon and heptathlon.
As a student-athlete at Duke (2018-23), Wakefield was a two-time All-American, earning citations for pentathlon (2022) and long jump (2023). She earned 11 All-ACC Team selections and etched her name in the top four of the Duke record books in seven different events. She led the Blue Devils to three ACC team championships, including as a captain in her senior season, when the team won the championship by the largest margin in conference history.
At Duke, Wakefield earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in neuroscience in 2022 and a master's in biosciences, bioethics and science policy in 2023. She is currently completing a master's in movement science from U-M's School of Kinesiology.
