Four years ago, Anna Willard was not even a blip on the national running scene.

“Looking at how things were four years ago … I sucked four years ago,” Willard said.

Everything changed in 2005 when the Greenwood, Maine, native discovered the steeplechase.

Willard is now America’s best.

With more than 20,000 people on their feet at Hayward Field, Willard broke away from the leaders with less than 600 meters remaining and captured the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic trials Friday morning in Eugene, Ore.

The victory earned Willard, 24, a spot on the U.S. Olympic team heading to Beijing next month.

She crossed the finish line with an American record of 9 minutes, 27.59 seconds, beating the old mark by more than a second.

It was the fastest women’s steeplechase ever run on U.S. soil.

“I knew I was in 9:28 or better shape.” Willard said. “I knew I was ready. When I heard 9:28 (over the PA), I thought, ‘this feels pretty good.’ I honestly didn’t know how much of a gap I had. At this point, time is completely peripheral. It’s ‘make the team.'”

Lisa Galaviz held the previous record at 9:28.75 set last year. Galaviz was never a factor Friday, finishing fifth, more than 20 seconds back.

Willard, a 2002 graduate of Telstar Regional High School in Bethel, discovered the steeplechase accidentally in 2005 during her junior year at Brown University. A middle distance runner in a rut, Willard filled in for an injured teammate and broke the school record in her first race.

She graduated from Brown the next year with 10 school records and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors.

With a year of eligibility left, Willard went to the University of Michigan for graduate school. 2007 was a breakout year. After winning three events at the conference meet, she won the steeplechase at the NCAA Championships with a collegiate record, placed second at the U.S. national championships and competed in the world championships in Osaka, Japan.

Even with a shin injury that slowed her training earlier this year, Willard found herself in the best shape of her life with an Olympic berth within her grasp. In tuneup races leading up to the trials, Willard set personal records in both the 800 and 1,500 meters. Her 1,500 time of 4:06.26 would have given her the fifth seed at the trials.

That speed gave Willard the confidence to sit back and let others set the early pace. She took a conservative approach in qualifying fourth in Monday’s semifinals in a pace she described as feeling “easier than a tempo run.”

Willard was relaxed waiting for Friday’s final, which was the night’s final event.

“She is so nice, easy to talk to, personable,” said Jennifer Bush, the fourth-place finisher. “We joked about the boringness, the waiting. In the end, you don’t say good luck. It doesn’t come down to luck. You say ‘have fun.'”

Willard settled into second place behind race leader Jennifer Barringer, who pushed the pace. Willard’s split at the mile mark was reportedly 5:00, four seconds quicker than her previous best.

The fast laps quickly turned the race into a three-way contest between Willard, Barringer and Lindsey Anderson.

“I wanted it to go out fast like it did,” Anderson said. “That is what we were planning on and I knew if I could stay right with Jenny and Anna, that I would be there at the end and be able to finish strong and make the team.”

Willard surged to the front with less than 600 meters to go and quickly opened a gap at the second-to-last water jump. She closed with a 400 spilt of 70.48 seconds to finish three seconds ahead Anderson. Barringer hung on for third to complete the U.S. Olympic team.

“With 600 to go, I just felt so fantastic, incredible,” Willard said. “My foot kept going to the side. I wanted to go. The fifth lap, mentally, is the hardest lap. The second-to-last water jump, I went early.”

The victory culminated a wild week for Willard. She got engaged last Saturday to men’s steeplechase runner Jonathan Pierce. He also competed at the trials, but failed to qualify Friday for the men’s finals.

Qualifying for the Olympics this year is especially sweet for Willard. This is the first year that the women’s steeplechase will be run at the Olympics.

“It’s pretty cool to be a part of history,” Willard said. “The Olympics is pretty cool alone. This is a pretty neat addition.”