On May 28, we debuted the fifth in a series of reader polls asking who you consider the best high school girls track and field athlete in Wisconsin history, with 10 primary suggestions. We received more than 1,300 votes, and here’s how people voted:
Suzy Favor voted as most impactful athlete in Wisconsin high school girls track and field history
Former Stevens Point Area Senior High standout Suzy Favor was the readers’ choice for the best girls track and field athlete in state history after receiving 584 votes.
Arguably the most-accomplished runner in state history regardless of gender, Favor won nine total WIAA state titles with five of them coming during track season. She swept the 1,600-meter state titles in Class A during her four years at Stevens Point. Her time of 4:43.79 in the 1,600 as a junior in 1985 remains the third-fastest time in state history.
Favor went to the University of Wisconsin, where she set an NCAA record with nine national titles across the indoor track, outdoor track and cross-country seasons. She also captured 32 total Big Ten Conference titles and became a three-time Olympian in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
She was awarded the Honda Sports Award in 1990, which is given to the nation’s best female collegiate track and field athlete. Favor was elected to the United States National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
While Favor was the top choice, she wasn’t the only popular one.
Here’s how you voted:
Our top 10:
1. Suzy Favor, Stevens Point: 584
2. Tessa Thurs, Edgar: 224
3. Molly Seidel, University Lake School: 183
4. Kennedy Blahnik, Algoma: 72
5. Dezerea Bryant, Milwaukee Bradley Tech: 48
6. Joanna Schultz, Holmen: 40
7. Camille Davre, Whitefish Bay: 35
8. Bonnie Draxler, Wrightstown: 23
9. Brooke Jaworski, Wausau West: 21
10. Dana Collins, Milwaukee Marshall 11
Here are the other names suggested as the most impactful in Wisconsin history
With the option to select someone other than our group of 10, we received numerous write-in submissions, including many who received more than one vote.
Others with 2 or more votes
Brooke Novak, Kaukauna: 16
Stephanie Pesch, Waukesha Catholic Memorial: 16
Roisin Willis, Stevens Point: 12
Celia Gentile, Neenah: 5
Nicole Anderson, Pittsville: 3
Eliza Aitken, West De Pere: 2
Kristen Barr, Wausau Newman: 2
Linda Hoffman, Green Bay Southwest: 2
Anna Huber, Appleton West: 2
Heather Hyland, Nekoosa: 2
Hillary Hyland, Nekoosa: 2
Esther Jones, Bay View: 2
Jaclynn Kriegl, Florence: 2
Kayci Martensen, Benton: 2
Alicia Monson, Amery: 2
Ann Mulrooney, Prairie du Chien: 2
Holly Nearman, Monroe: 2
Chidera Obasih, Brookfield Central: 2
Serena Ramsey, Waukesha West: 2
Liz Reusser, Middleton: 2
Ashley Sandberg, Green Bay East: 2
Josie Schaefer, Baraboo: 2
Kaya Senaya, Brown Deer: 2
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Suzy Favor voted most-impactful Wisconsin high school girls track athlete
Reporting by Michael Whitlow, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Michael Whitlow, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
