Isabella Whittaker

Isabella Whittaker
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (2002-02-15) February 15, 2002
Home townLaurel, Maryland, U.S.
Sport
SportAthletics
EventSprint
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)200m: 23.18 (Princeton, 2024)
400m: 49.24 (Virginia Beach, 2025)

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]

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.[19]

Statistics

Grand Slam Track results[20]
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. ^ Mull, Cory (March 13, 2020). "The Sisters From Maryland You Should Know About". Milesplit. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  20. ^ "Grand Slam Track Results". Grand Slam Track. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
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