Isabella Whittaker, Addison Richey sign with Razorbacks

Shawn Price April 22, 2024

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas has signed two additions to the women’s program with sprinter Isabella Whittaker, a transfer from Penn, and pole vaulter Addison Richey, a senior at Teurlings Catholic HS in Lafayette, Louisiana, joining the Razorbacks next fall.

Whittaker, senior at Penn, recently established a pair of career best times in the 200m and 400m with marks of 23.24 and 51.14 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational hosted by Florida. During the Florida Relays held at the end of March, Whittaker was part of 4 x 100m (43.96) and 4 x 400m relays (3:29.64) that placed third and second, respectively.

Richey has won a pair of Louisiana State titles, one each at indoor and outdoor competitions, while collecting two silver and one bronze medal in previous State meets. She has produced a career best of 13-6 this season and recently cleared 13-0 to win the District 4-4A title.

This indoor season Whittaker qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 400m and as a member of the 4 x 400m relay. Whittaker posted a time of 52.93 in placing 11th in the prelims while the Penn relay placed ninth with a 3:31.82.

At the 2024 Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor meet, Whittaker won the 400m (52.54), finished second in the 200m (23.90, 23.74 prelim), and placed third in the 60m (7.44, 7.39 PR prelim). During the 2023 Ivy League Outdoor Championships, Whittaker finished runner-up in the 400m (52.65) and ran on winning efforts in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays.

Whittaker, from Laurel, Maryland, attended Mount DeSales Academy in high school.

This outdoor season Richey is currently on a six-meet winning streak in the pole vault. In addition to winning a district title in the pole vault, she ran on runner-up 4 x 100m relay and finished third in the 100m.

Richey won the 2024 Louisiana Indoor State title with a 12-10 clearance and produced an indoor best of 13-3 to win the McNeese HS Indoor meet. A 12-5.25 clearance claimed the 2023 Louisiana State Outdoor title.

As a sophomore in 2022, Richey finished as runner-up in the Louisiana State meet during the indoor (11-11.75) and outdoor (12-0) seasons. She cleared a season best of 12-7 and made 12-5.5 as runner-up in the AAU Junior Olympic Games.