Juliette Whittaker
 Whittaker at the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 1, 2003 Laurel, Maryland, United States |
| Education | Stanford University |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event(s) | 800 m, 1500 m |
| University team | Stanford Cardinal |
| Coached by | J.J. Clark |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal bests | |
Medal record | |
Juliette Whittaker (born 1 December 2003) is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 metres. She is the 2024 NCAA Indoor 800 m champion and won a bronze medal at the 2022 World U20 Championships.[1]
Athletics career[edit]
High School[edit]
Whittaker attended Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, Maryland from 2018 to 2022, where she rose to prominence winning numerous state and national titles and setting multiple state and national records.
2021[edit]
As a junior in 2021, Whittaker ran under 2:02 in the 800 m six-times and competed at the US Olympic trials, reaching the semi-final. At the Brooks PR Invitational in July, she won the mile in a time of 4:38.65, the fastest time of any high schooler in 2021.[2]
2022[edit]
In May 2022, Whittaker became only the second high schooler (behind Mary Cain), to break the 2 minute barrier in the 800 m, by clocking a time of 1:59.80 to beat a field of professionals at Icahn Stadium in New York City. The following month, she broke Cain's high school national record of 1:59.51, running a time of 1:59.04 to win the USA U20 Championships at Hayward Field. In August, Whittaker competed at the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. There she won a bronze medal in 2:00.18, only behind fellow Stanford commit Roisin Willis and Swiss athlete Audrey Werro, who both ran under the previous championships record.[3]
Stanford University[edit]
2023[edit]
In fall 2022, Whittaker enrolled at Stanford University, joining the Stanford Cardinal track and field and cross country teams. At the 2023 NCAA Championships, Whittaker contested the individual 800 m as well as the 4 × 400 m relay and the distance medley relay. In the 800 m, she placed second, going 1–2 with fellow Stanford freshman Roisin Willis in a time of 2:00.05. She also anchored the Stanford DMR to a first-place finish and ran the third leg on the twelfth place Cardinal 4 × 400 m relay team.[4][5][6]
During the 2023 outdoor season, Whittaker won the Pac-12 800 m title, but chose to contest the 1500 m at the NCAA West Regional Qualifier. However, she failed qualify for the NCAA Championship after placing eighth in her heat.
2024[edit]
Choosing to contest the 800 m at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships, she won her first NCAA individual title in an indoor personal best of 1:59.53, also breaking the meet record.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ "Juliette WHITTAKER | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ "Mount de Sales senior Juliette Whittaker runs away with 2021-22 Baltimore Sun high school girls Athlete of the Year honor". Baltimore Sun. 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ Hollobaugh, Jeff. "2022 HS Girls Athlete Of The Year — Juliette Whittaker". Track & Field News. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ LetsRun.com. "2023 NCAA Indoor Day 1 Women's Recap: NCAA Records Galore & Stanford's Freshman Phenoms Win the DMR". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ "Results and Highlights From the 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships". Runner's World. 2023-03-12. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ "TFRRS | Juliette Whittaker – Track and Field Results & Statistics". www.tfrrs.org. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ "Whittaker Wins NCAA Title". Stanford University Athletics. Retrieved 2024-04-30.