INDIANAPOLIS -- Bettering the American indoor record* in the women's 400, Isabella Whittaker (Laurel, MD/USATF Potomac Valley) earned recognition as the 10th USATF Athlete of the Week award winner for 2025.
Whittaker, a junior at the University of Arkansas, sped around the Virginia Beach Sports Center oval to win the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships title in 49.24, slashing .24 seconds off the ratified American indoor record in the women's 400, and also claiming the collegiate record. She finished the meet by anchoring the Razorback 4x400 to victory with a 49.70 split.
In addition to her American and collegiate records, Whittaker also moved to No. 2 on the all-time world indoor performer list, only .07 off the world record that is held by Femke Bol of the Netherlands, and she is now No. 7 on the absolute (indoor/outdoor) U.S. all-time list. She is the third Arkansas woman in the past three years to claim a spot in the U.S. absolute top 10 in the 400.
Other top performances from last week:
Matt Richtman became the first American man to win the Los Angeles Marathon since 1994, running 2:07:56. Though the course isn't eligible for record consideration, Richtman's time made him =6th on the all-conditions U.S. all-time performer list.
Jane Hedengren of Provo (Utah) Timpview High School bettered the American U20 5000 record and set three national indoor high school records at the Nike Indoor Nationals. She first set the 5000 standard with a 15:13.26 that clipped more than 14 seconds off the previous high school record, and then followed with a 4:26.14 mile that included a 4:07.68 en route 1500.
Conner Mantz ran two seconds faster than his own American record for the half marathon at the United Airlines NYC Half, clocking 59:15 to place second. The course isn't record-eligible, but Mantz's time is the fastest ever all-conditions performance by an American.
Tate Taylor of San Antonio's Harlan High School shattered the national high school indoor record in the boys' 200 with a 20.46 to win the Nike Indoor Nationals. The previous record was 20.62 from 2021.
* – all world records are subject to ratification by World Athletics, and American records are subject to verification by the USATF Records Committee.
Now in its 24th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week when there are high-level competitions and features the athlete on USATF.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
2025 Winners: January 15, Zariel Macchia; January 22, Conner Mantz; January 29, Katelyn Tuohy; February 5, Ethan Strand; February 12, Yared Nuguse; February 19, Grant Fisher; February 26, Josh Hoey; March 5, Heather MacLean; March 12, Cole Boone; March 19, Isabella Whittaker.
We welcome your nominations!
To nominate an athlete for USATF Athlete of the Week, please send a detailed email about their performance to communications@usatf.org.
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