Annette was a member of the 2011 Inline Speed Skating World Team. She was selected by the Team USA coach to compete in every distance race on the banked track and on the road at the 2011 World Championships in Yeosu, South Korea. Annette’s current goal is to make Team USA in 2012 and to medal at the 2012 World Championships in Italy. She is currently majoring in elementary education at Baker College.
2011 Senior Team USA Member
Hometown: Port Huron
Current residence: Michigan
High school attended: Troy High School and Clarkston High School
Year of graduation: 1998 from Clarkston Highschool
Sports you competed in while in high school (include number of years): Only Inline Speed Skating
for all 4 years of high school
College attended: Currently at Baker Full Time
Year of graduation: In the works...
Degree/major: Elementary Education
Current skating club: Great Skate Wolverines of Roseville, MI
Coaches name: Jay Ingram
When did you begin skating: My parents 1st took me roller skating when I was @3yrs old. I became a rink rat in my elementary years and joined the rink's speed team. My 1st speed team was the Skate Port Cobras of Port Huron. My 1st race was in 1989, when I was 10.
Are you sponsored and if so, by whom: I am not currently sponsored. My home team (Great Skate Wolverines) has done a great amount for me to help ensure that I raced these past to years. They were the ones that made the difference between "Being Capable" and "Achieved"
Future goals you hope to obtain as a skater: My future goal is to make the USA Team again in 2012 and medal at the World Championships in Italy, 2012.
Awards, honors and statistics received in roller sports:
Feb 2012 Blue Ridge Challenge, Roanoke, VA:
Indoor:
World Class Ladies Open 5000m
1st place- Open Champion, 2yrs in a row
Jan 2012 America's Cup in Palm Beach, FL.
Outdoor:
Pro-Elite Woman:
-1500m Race
3rd place
-10k Points Race:
2nd across the line after falling with 30laps to go. 5th in points.
2011 Outdoor Accomplishments:
*Made the USA Team, Raced as #1 for Distance at the age of 32yrs...oldest woman thus far to make the USA Inline Speed Team.
*Raced all of the distance races on Track and Road as well as 1 relay on Road for the USA at the World Championships in Yeosu, South Korea
*2011 Outdoor National Championships: Colorado Springs, CO
2nd in Distance over all, 5th in Sprints & Distance combined
-Banked Track World Class Races:
-10,000m Points/Elimination Race:
1st across the line, 2nd Place in points, New Record: 17:20:401
-15,000m Elimination Race
2nd place
-Road World Class Races:
-10,000m Points Race
2nd place
*2011 Indoor National Championships: Fort Wayne, IN
Overall National Champion of the Elite Grand Classic Ladies (30-35yrs)
-1000m
1st Place- New Record: 1:41.627
-500m
1st Place
-1500m
1st Place- New Record: 2:34.707
-2000m Classic 2 Lady with Jenny Steketee
1st Place- New Record: 3:21.490
*2010 Indoor National Championships: Lincoln, NE
2nd Overall in the Elite Grand Classic Ladies
-1000m
1st Place- New Record: 1:43.592
-500m
1st Place
-1500m
4th place- fell
*1999 Made the top 6 for the USA Team:
Top 3 represented the USA in Chile, 2nd 3 represented the USA in Cuba
Cuba Cup: Havana, Cuba
-10,000m Race
1st Place
-15,000m Race
2nd Place
-5,000m Race
3rd Place
*Sept 2009: I decided to lace up my Inlines after nearly a 10yr retirement
"You can take the Speed Skater out of the race, but you will never take the race out of the Speed Skater!"-A.S.H.
*2002: I was inducted into th Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame, my home town
Link: phsportshalloffame.com/haywood_annette.html
*2000: Hung up my Inlines to marry and raise 2 awesome girls.
*1996, 1997, 1998: Made Alternate for the USA Team
*1997-1999: Sponsored by Bont
*1992: Upgraded from racing on Quads to racing on Inlines
*Fall of 1989: 10yrs old, raced my 1st race in what was then USAC (now USARS) on Quads
Who is your favorite sports figure/Who is the person you most admire/greatest influence in your life and why:
Of the Speed Skating World, top 3 of many:
(1) Theresa Cliff: Awesome, Fair, Humble, Down-to-Earth, Honorable Racer. She was the epitome of "It is the quiet ones you have to worry about." Even though she was one of the top racers for years- she never once let it get to her head. She was always willing to help a skater improve. She was a great teammate- never just a person on the team- she was a true Teammate. Of all the girls/ladies I have raced, I best relate to Theresa's demeanor. I always admired her humbleness and ability to stay level headed while on top.
(2) Vicci King: Awesome, Fair, Confident , VICIOUS, Honorable Racer. Honestly, she was the 1st competitor that I knew I better have my i's dotted and t's crossed when I raced her. Her racing style demanded respect and she truly set the race tone of that she was in for the win. I always admired her viciousness and command of the races while maintaining a good sportsmanship.
(3) Jay Ingram: Awesome, Fair, Driving, Honorable Coach. He was the one person that helped me see the negatives of my skating career as positive fuel for the future of my skating career. He never allowed me to quit on myself, helping me see that I can push up and beyond where I thought my personal finish line was. Jay has always been a great coach, teammate, parent figure, racing counselor, and most important- a great cheerleader. He was the one who taught me that "There is no such thing as 'I can't', you are only unable to at the moment." In my late teens, we were visiting the grounds of the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. He pointed out a quote to me and told me that the quote summed me up in 1 sentence: "I learned how to win by learning how to lose, that means not being afraid of losing." -Jeff Blatnick, Olympic Greco Roman Wrestler...at the time I did not fully grasp what he was saying. Later it hit me that 'losing'- in all forms and levels- from mesing up a start or a relay to having your hiney handed to you with a bow on top, Jay taught me that it is within those moments that you have a chance to reanalyze, learn, and adjust for next time.
List your hobbies: Learning the daily life lessons from my girls, Love doing art of all mediums, Writing, Anything Outside, and of course Inline Speed Skating.
What music do you listen to during training or competition? Techno/Dance- fast and dance worthy music.
What makes you a unique and special person:...there is only 1 of me.
Favorite food before a competition: The day of: lots of liquids- water, Gatorade, and Boost. Food wise, I'd have to say: Plums, Bananas, and Cliff Bars/Power Bars on the day of.
Favorite movie: Love the Comedies
If you could pick one word to describe you, what would it be: I would have to simply give the nic-name I gained at the 2011 Worlds: 'GI Jane'
Anything else you would like us to know about you: From talking with others about it- I guess I give off this 'I am intense and overly serious' energy/vibe. When people get to know me they find out that I am actually easy going, prank pulling, and full of sarcasm.
Family Information: All Michiganders
Brothers: 3
Sisters: 2
Children’s names: Jove' (Joe-Vay) & Kelly aka: Cool Water & Wild Fire