From a small town in Borden, Saskatchewan, Savannah Sutherland arrived at the University of Michigan with big dreams — and left as one of the greatest collegiate hurdlers in history.

In this episode of Pending Raftification, host Keenan Gray talks with the Olympian and 2025 Bowerman Finalist. The two dive deep into Sutherland’s journey in the sport from a small town in Canada to competing at the highest levels. They then break down her eye-opening performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where Sutherland broke Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s collegiate 400m hurdle record, crossing the finish in 52.49, which also made her the ninth fastest 400m hurdler in history.

Sutherland goes on to share insights on the importance of community in her athletic career, her experience representing both Canada and the University of Michigan, and her future goals, both on and off the track.

Note: In early 2026, Sutherland’s brother Cole was seriously injured in a work accident. Sutherland has publicly shared what her brother and family are going through and started a GoFundMe page to help. Please consider donating in support of Sutherland’s brother.

Follow Savannah on Instagram at @sav.sutherland and stay up to date on her latest performances on Athletic.

Pending Ratification offers an in-depth look at the stars of track and field and cross country. Hosted by Keenan Gray, the series moves beyond race results and records to explore the experiences, perspectives, and personal stories that shape the athletes at the center of the sport.

Find Pending Ratification on RunnerSpace.com, AthleticTV, youtube.com/runnerspace and your favorite podcast platforms like Spotify & Apple Podcasts.