Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Track and Field Signs Wilho Hautala
9/30/2019 11:30:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Finland native won gold medal at 2018 Nordic Junior Athletics Championships
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University men's track and field head coach John Goodridge announced the signing of Wilho Hautala (Heinola, Finland-Lahden Lyseo) Monday, Sept. 30.
"Wilho is a very promising steeplechaser whose father/coach represented Finland in the Barcelona Olympics," said Goodridge. "I appreciate the trust both son and father have given me to help Wilho continue his development."
Hautala will join the men's track and field program in January after gaining accolades in numerous youth competitions in Europe, including a gold medal at the 2018 Nordic Junior Athletics Championships in Hvidovre, Denmark, with a time of 9:32.56 in the 3000m steeplechase. He also competed in the 2018 IAAF U20 World Championships in Tampere, Finland, placing 20th in the 3000m steeplechase with a then-personal best of 9:12.42, and quickly eclipsed that mark when he clocked in at 9:09.31 during the 2018 Finnish Athletics Championships in Jyväskylä.
Currently in his 19th season at the helm of the men's track and field and cross country programs, Goodridge has a long history of coaching successful steeplechasers. Eastern graduate and E-Club Athletic Hall of Famer Jordan Desilets, who won the NCAA Division I national champion in the 3000m steeplechase in 2004, is also the Mid-American Conference and EMU record-holder in the same event. In total, there have been seven All-America honorees and 12 MAC Champions in the steeplechase during the Goodridge era.
To keep up with all things EMU men's track and field, follow the team on Twitter @EMUMXC_TF or visit the team webpage on EMUEagles.com.
"Wilho is a very promising steeplechaser whose father/coach represented Finland in the Barcelona Olympics," said Goodridge. "I appreciate the trust both son and father have given me to help Wilho continue his development."
Hautala will join the men's track and field program in January after gaining accolades in numerous youth competitions in Europe, including a gold medal at the 2018 Nordic Junior Athletics Championships in Hvidovre, Denmark, with a time of 9:32.56 in the 3000m steeplechase. He also competed in the 2018 IAAF U20 World Championships in Tampere, Finland, placing 20th in the 3000m steeplechase with a then-personal best of 9:12.42, and quickly eclipsed that mark when he clocked in at 9:09.31 during the 2018 Finnish Athletics Championships in Jyväskylä.
Currently in his 19th season at the helm of the men's track and field and cross country programs, Goodridge has a long history of coaching successful steeplechasers. Eastern graduate and E-Club Athletic Hall of Famer Jordan Desilets, who won the NCAA Division I national champion in the 3000m steeplechase in 2004, is also the Mid-American Conference and EMU record-holder in the same event. In total, there have been seven All-America honorees and 12 MAC Champions in the steeplechase during the Goodridge era.
To keep up with all things EMU men's track and field, follow the team on Twitter @EMUMXC_TF or visit the team webpage on EMUEagles.com.
Players Mentioned
Distance
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