Sutherland secures second outdoors national championship in record-breaking fashion

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A year ago, leading through the 10th and final hurdle, the then-reigning national champion in the 400-meter hurdles, Savannah Sutherland, was poised to repeat 2023’s success. 

But that second title failed to materialize for Sutherland — at least not in 2024 — as immaculate form over the final hurdle gave Southern Californian sprinter Jasmine Jones the final push she needed to secure the win by just 0.11 seconds.

Now with four other competitors from the Michigan track and field team, Sutherland had one more opportunity to succeed while wearing the block ‘M’. She had been at the pinnacle before, but faltered moments before reaching the summit only a year prior. But after coming off an easy semifinals victory in the 400 hurdles, Sutherland was primed for the finals. 

“The semifinal for her was getting around the track, making sure she qualified and ran a relatively clean race,” sprints and hurdles coach Steven Rajewsky said. “It was one of those for her, it was an easy run.”

While a heavy favorite, a win was not guaranteed for Sutherland. With competition coming from the Southeastern Conference champion, Akala Garrett, who had placed fourth nationally in 2024, Sutherland would still have to execute a clean race plan if she was to double up on championships.

Garrett stuck to her aggressive running and was the first to jump.  Despite initially falling behind, Sutherland overtook her, running with more fervor than she did in the semis. Still, she maintained her composure, and kept flowing through the race.

By the seventh hurdle, Sutherland had diminished any possibility of her not finishing first. Even with a jump onto her non-dominant leg in the ninth hurdle, it didn’t matter — she was gone. With a final 40-meter dash, she left no room for any other competitor, finishing with a time of 52.46 seconds. 

Not only did she break her personal record, she broke the course record, Michigan’s record, the NCAA record and the national Canadian record.

“I knew that I could get a personal best, and so that’s where my mind was at,” Sutherland said.  “But when I saw that number on the board, I was definitely pretty shocked, especially because the race felt easy.”

Amid Sutherland’s record-breaking run, her fellow Wolverines also competed to their fullest potential.

While battling injuries, graduate multi-athlete Clare McNamara secured a spot in the heptathlon. With a fourth- and seventh-place finish in the 800 and shot put, respectively, McNamara closed her career with a score of 4980, good for 20th place.

In the field, the underclassmen duo of freshman Abigail Russell and Elizabeth Tapper both competed in shot put. Tapper, who has broken record after record and earned second in the Big Ten, finished 14th overall. Russel placed slightly behind her at 21st.

“(Tapper) has just continued to be on this awesome trajectory now as a sophomore,” Rajewsky said. “To do what she’s done and continue to ascend both at the Big Ten level — which the Big Ten and throws is as good as it gets — and then to be able to come to the NCAA championships and just be a competitor. We really know there’s more there for both (Tapper and Russell).”

Off a fourth place finish in the Big Ten championships herself, junior Emma Yungeberg, competed in javelin throwing. A school record holder, Yungeberg has been a valuable part of Michigan’s throw team for years. And with a throw of 50.08 meters, Yungeberg placed 17th overall.

While Michigan as a team didn’t take home any trophies, Sutherland propelled herself to one anyway. After tasting defeat a year ago, Sutherland didn’t just secure her second championship — she secured her legacy.

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