Sam Fariss has been writing for RunBlogRun for just over a year; her column, Run by Women, is focused on women and women’s issues in the sport of global athletics.
Sam Fariss writes on Anna Hall, the phenomenal heptathlete from Florida who has impressed even the G.O.A.T., Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who told RunBlogRun editor Larry Eder that Anna Hall has what it takes to do well in the tough global world of multi-events.
Run by Women #16: The young and unyielding Anna Hall
By Sam Fariss
Anna Hall, in the past five months alone, has become a household name by earning just about every award possible. The University of Florida sophomore won the NCAA Championships and the USATF Championships. Not to mention, she also earned the first United States medal in the heptathlon at a World Championships meet since 2001.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 15-24, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris
The points that Hall has earned for her team are beyond impressive, not to mention her personal records in the open events.
“I’m really proud and excited that I could do it on home soil. I didn’t really know how much I was going to PR by, but I knew that I would,” Hall said. “I knew I had a shot at putting a really good one together. I didn’t know if it would come together, but luckily it did.”
She is one of the many young superstars emerging from the NCAA level. At the World Athletics Championships, she was amongst fellow Gators Champion Allison, Talitha Diggs, and Jasmine Moore, as well as many other collegians such as Abby Steiner, who recently signed with Puma.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July15-26, 2022
heptathlon, women, Hall, 800 meters, USA, Florida, photo by Kevin Morris
Alongside her incredible performance at the World Championships, Hall had an absolutely standout season. In her outdoor 2022 season alone, she competed in 73 events, won four team titles, won two NCAA Championships, and won an SEC Championship. Hall was also named as a finalist for The 2022 Bowerman, which will be awarded in December.
All of this is coming at the end of the road to recovery after Hall had broken a bone in her foot at the USATF Olympic Trials just last year.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July15-24, 2022
heptathlon, women, Hall, USA, Florida, photo by Kevin Morris
“I definitely felt a little bit of redemption,” Hall said about her return from injury. “I think knowing how young I was, people knew I would be back eventually. But not the following year. That motivated me to do extra things.”
Hall does more than the heptathlon – she also loves to dabble in open events such as the long jump and the 400-meter hurdles, which she has a personal best of 54.48 seconds.
Hall has said that between Worlds and the start of the NCAA season, she will take some time off to reflect and decide whether she wants to return to the ever-impressive Florida team or to begin her professional career.
The fans of track and field and of Anna Hall will have to wait and see what the next steps in the heptathlete’s career.
