Isabella Whittaker

Isabella Whittaker
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (2002-02-15) February 15, 2002
Home townLaurel, Maryland, U.S.
Sport
SportAthletics
Event
Sprint
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)200m: 23.18 (Princeton, 2024)
400m: 49.24 (Virginia Beach, 2025)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  United States
World Championships
2025 Tokyo 4 × 400 m relay

Isabella Whittaker (born February 15, 2002) is an American sprinter. She is the North American indoor record holder for the 400 m dash with a time of 49.24 seconds, set on March 15, 2025, in Virginia Beach.[1]

Early life

She grew up in Laurel, Maryland. She was a competitive swimmer as a youngster and it was not until high school that she started running track. She attended Mount De Sales Academy, a private Catholic all–girls high school in Baltimore. In 2020 she started at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 2024.[2][3][4] In April 2024, she was announced to be matriculating to the University of Arkansas as a member of their Track and Field team and graduate student.[5] As of April 2025, she was announced as a Grand Slam Track Challenger.

Career

She ran a personal best of 50.17 seconds to finish fifth in the final of the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor final in Eugene, Oregon in June 2024.[6]

She ran 50.48 seconds to qualify for the final of the American Olympic trials in June 2024.[7] In the final she finished sixth with a time of 50.68 seconds.[8] In July 2024 she was included in the American relay pool for the 2024 Paris Olympics.[9]

On 1 March 2025, she moved to seventh on the women’s world indoor 400m all-time list after running 49.90 at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships in Texas.[10] On March 15, 2025, she moved to second all-time on the women's world indoor 400m list with an American and NCAA Record time of 49.24 to win the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships in Virginia Beach.[11][12] The time bettered Britton Wilson's North American record set in 2023, and placed her second only behind Femke Bol of the Netherlands.[13]

At the second 2025 Grand Slam Track event in Miami she finished fourth in the 400 metres with a time of 50.38 seconds on 2 May 2025.[14] She then finished third in the 200 metres race in her category with a time of 22.76 seconds.[15] She ran 49.58 seconds to win the 400 metres at the 2025 Bislett Games, in Oslo, and 49.78 seconds to win at the 2025 BAUHAUS-galan event in Stockholm, both part of the 2025 Diamond League.[16][17] She placed third behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Aaliyah Butler in the 400 metres at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic.[18] She qualified for the final of the 400 metres at the 2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, running winning her semi-final in 50.07 seconds, finishing second in the final behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in 49.59 seconds.[19][20] Competing in Switzerland, she finished third at the 2025 Athletissima in wet conditions in Lausanne, and placed sixth in the 400 metres at the Diamond League Final in Zurich, in August 2025.[21][22]

Competing at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, she was a semi-finalist in the women's 400 metres.[23]

Personal life

Her parents Paul and Jill, both ran in college. Paul was a mid-distance runner and Jill was a hurdler. One of four siblings, her sister Juliette Whittaker competes as a middle-distance runner.[24]

Statistics

Grand Slam Track results[25]
Slam Race group Event Pl. Time Prize money
2025 Miami Slam Long sprints 400 m 4th 50.38 US$30,000
200 m 3rd 22.76
2025 Philadelphia Slam Long sprints 400 m 3rd 50.16 US$50,000
200 m 2nd 22.82

References

  1. ^ "Isabella Whittaker". World Athletics. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  2. ^ Douglas, Caroline (April 14, 2021). "Freshman Isabella Whittaker focuses on the mental component of track and field". thedp.com. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "Whittaker Sisters Take Over New York City!". Mile Split. January 6, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "Ego of the Week: Bella Whittaker". 34st.com. March 21, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  5. ^ Smith, Conor (April 24, 2014). "Penn track and field Isabella Whittaker to transfer to Arkansas for graduate eligibility". thedp.com. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "Isabella Whittaker 5th Place Women's 400m - NCAA D1 Outdoor Championships 2024". Runnerspace. June 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  7. ^ "ISABELLA WHITTAKER 2ND PLACE WOMEN'S 400M SEMIFINAL HEAT 3 - U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS 2024". Runnerspace. June 23, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  8. ^ "Whittaker punches ticket to Paris Olympics". Penn Today. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Ringholer, Tyler (July 1, 2024). "2024 Penn graduate Isabella Whittaker qualifies for the Paris Olympics". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  10. ^ "MacLean and Nuguse run fast miles in Boston". World Athletics. March 2, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  11. ^ Cannizzaro, Matt (March 15, 2025). "Arkansas' Isabella Whittaker Sets American Record In 400 At NCAA Indoors". FloTrack. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  12. ^ "Arkansas' Isabella Whittaker breaks 400m collegiate record at 2025 NCAA indoors | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  13. ^ Zawatski, Emma (March 16, 2025). "Arkansas Champion Runs 49.24, Second Only To Femke Bol's WR, And Then Closes The Meet By Anchoring Winning 4x400". Runnerspace. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "Grand Slam Track Miami". World Athletics. May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  15. ^ "U.S. STARS KENNY BEDNAREK, SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE REMAIN UNDEFEATED AT GRAND SLAM TRACK". Runnerspace. May 4, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  16. ^ "Duplantis breaks world pole vault record with 6.28m in Stockholm". World Athletics. June 15, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  17. ^ Crumley, Euan (June 12, 2025). "RECORD-BREAKING WARHOLM BACK TO HIS BEST". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  18. ^ Mallows, Tom (July 5, 2025). "Chebet & Kipyegon break world records in Eugene". BBC Sport. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  19. ^ "USA Championships". World Athletics. August 1, 2025. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  20. ^ "USA Track & Field Championships 2025: Jonah Koech upsets Cole Hocker in 1,500". Oregon Live. August 2, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  21. ^ "Results - Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League 2025". Watch Athletics. August 28, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  22. ^ "Results - Athletissima Lausanne Diamond League 2025". Watch Athletics. August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  23. ^ "World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025". World Athletics. September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  24. ^ Mull, Cory (March 13, 2020). "The Sisters From Maryland You Should Know About". Milesplit. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  25. ^ "Grand Slam Track Results". Grand Slam Track. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
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