Honors: 2025 NCAA West First Round appearance
| Personal Bests |
| Indoor |
Outdoor |
Cross Country |
| Mile |
4:42.68 |
2/22/25 |
5000 meters |
15:47.05 |
4/4/25 |
6K |
19:42.8 |
11/1/24 |
| 3000 meters |
9:04.77 |
2/9/24 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 5000 meters |
16:37.13 |
2/25/23 |
|
|
|
|
|
TFRRS Profile
2025 Outdoor Track: Finished in 27th in the 5000 meters at the NCAA West First Round, covering the distance in 16:26.15. Also competed in the 10,000 meters with a 41st-place finish with a time of 36:49.23 (May 31)... Turned in a personal best and earned a podium spot in the 10,000 meters at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, marking a time of 33:28.72 to place sixth, the best time turned in by a Badger in the event this season (May 18)... Was a part of the 10th-fastest DMR in school history and the third-fastest 4x1500 meter relay at the Penn Relays, finishing with times of 11:16.40 and 17:26.83, respectively (Apr. 26)... Advanced to No. 6 all-time in UW's Outdoor Track history in the 5000 meters at the Stanford Invite, covering the distance in 15:47.05, good for 14th place and a new personal best (Apr. 4).
2025 Indoor Track: Finished in 17th in the 3000 meters at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, turning in a time of 9:19.83. Was also a part of the sixth-fastest DMR in school history, as they rank sixth all-time by completing the race in 11:11.55 (March 1)... Took third in the mile at the Alex Wilson Invite, turning in a new personal best time of 4:42.68 (Feb. 22)... Placed first in the 3000 meters at the Wisconsin Windy City Invite with a time of 9:07.80, her quickest mark of the season (Feb. 14)... Finished in fourth in the 3000 meters championship at the Meyo Invite, turning in a time of 9:11.94 (Feb. 1)... Was a part of the winning team in the DMR at the Dr. Sander Invitational, the nation's fastest time. Took sixth in the mile with a new PR, covering the distance in 4:45.72 (Jan. 25)... Ran in the 5000 meters at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, finishing in 22nd in her heat with a time of 16:28.23 (Dec. 7).
2024 Outdoor Track: was a member of the 4x1500 squad that finished fourth and set the school record in 17:14.75 at the Penn Relays (April 27).. finished ninth in the 5000 meters with a time of 15:49.80 at the Bryan Clay Invitational (April12)... finished fourth in the 1500 meters crossing in 4:24.45 at the Stanford Invitational (March 29)
2024 Indoor Track: Won the 5000 meters in 16:05.68 and finished second in the 3000 meters crossing in 9:18.51 at the Big Ten Indoor Championships (Feb. 23-24)... competed in the 3000 meters finishing third in 9:04.77 at the Badgers Windy City Invitational (Feb. 9)... won the 3,000 meteres with a personal best time of 9:11.98 at the Michigan Invitational (Jan. 27)... finished third in the mile premier race with a time of 4:44.66 at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational (Jan. 20)
2023 Cross Country: Placed 44th overall at the 2023 NCAA Championships (Nov. 18), covering the course in 20:08.2 (6K)... Earned All-Region honors after placing fifth at the Great Lakes Regional (Nov. 10), covering the course in 20:18.3 (6K)... Led the Badgers at the 2023 Big Ten Championships (Oct. 27), finishing second overall covering the 6K course in 20:57.4... Led the Badgers at the 2023 Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational presented by Under Armour (Oct. 13), finishing 34th overall covering the 6K course in 20:36.0... Competed in the Tom Cooney Championship race at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational (Sept. 29) finishing 10th overall covering the 6K course in 20:05.3
2023 Outdoor Track: Finished 10th running a personal best of 16:09.43 in the 5000 meters at the Penn Relays (Apr.27-29)... placed second in the 5000 meters with a time of 16:16.82 at the Stanford Invitational (Mar.31-Apr.1)... competed in her first-ever NCAA west prelims in the 5000 meters, finishing 42nd in 16:39.02 (May 24)
2023 Indoor Track: Finished 14th in the 5000 meter run a 16:37.13 at the Big Ten Championships (Feb.24-25)...place fifth in the 5000 meter race with a time of 16:37.68 at the Indiana Relays (Jan.27-28)...won the 3000 meters running a personal best of 9:40.88 at the Larry Wieczorek Invite (Jan.20-21)...placed fifth recording a personal best in the mile at 4:58.25 at the Badgers Midwest Invite (Jan.14)
2022 Cross Country: Finished fifth unattached at the Badger Open (Sept. 8) running the 5K course in 16:44.3 ... placed 43rd at the Roy Griak Invitational (Sept. 23) covering the course in 21:49.0 (6K) ... placed 216th at the Nuttycombe Invitational (Oct. 14), covering the course in 21:51.3 (6K) ... finished 48th at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships (Oct. 28th) with a time of 21:18.0 (6K)
2022 Outdoor Track: Did not compete
2022 Indoor Track: Did not compete
2021 Cross Country: Did not compete
High school: Three-time state qualifier in cross country, finishing third as a senior, 11th as a junior and 17th as a sophomore ... set school record in cross country as a senior ... won the Milwaukee High School Sports Award for Cross Country Runner of the Year as a senior ... two-time North Shore Conference Runner of the Year ... three-time conference champion in cross country ... two-time sectional champion in cross country ... three-time state qualifier in track ... conference champion in the 1600 meters ... school record holder in the indoor 1600 meters and 3200 meters, and outdoor 3200 meters ... coaches were James DeMarco and Jay Fuller ... named to the 2014 USATF National team ... member of the high honor roll
Personal, Parents are Henriette Willemse and André Willemse... older sister Zanelle competed in cross country and track at Charleston Southern... was born and raised in South Africa, moved to U.S. at age 11 ... born Jan. 28 ... major is business
Why Wisconsin?
"I chose Wisconsin because of the location of the school and the campus is beautiful. Academically, Wisconsin is an amazing school with an great business school and I am excited for the opportunity to study at such a prestigious school. Athletically, I am excited to compete at a Big Ten school and push myself to reach my full potential. I love the team dynamic and their goals. I also thought the coach was a good fit to help further my athletic career."
