Isabella Whittaker wins NCAA 400m in U.S. & Collegiate record

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – A scintillating performance by Razorback Isabella Whittaker at the NCAA Indoor Championships produced an American and collegiate record in the 400m as she blasted a 2025 world-leading time of 49.24 seconds at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

Arkansas finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in team standings with 31 points. The Razorbacks were joined by Oklahoma and Washington. Oregon won the team championship with 55 points over Georgia (39) and USC (35). The rest of the top 10 teams included Texas A&M (27), Illinois (25.5), BYU (24), and Texas Tech (21.5).

“The team did a fantastic job of sticking together,” noted Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “We got punched in the mouth yesterday, and we just wanted to see how these young ladies would respond. We had a really good team meeting this morning and kind of laid it out to them.

“Character is developed when things don’t go your way. They showed a lot of character today. That’s what we started working on in the fall and it came to a culmination today. We can’t be more excited.”

The time by Whittaker bettered the American and collegiate record of 49.48 established by Razorback Britton Wilson in 2023 at the NCAA Indoor Championships held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“It was the big goal ever since I got to Arkansas,’ stated Whittaker. “I wanted to be a national champion and I had my eyes on the American and collegiate record for a long time. So, I’m excited to do it on the day. I’m happy with how it came together. I just wanted to lay it out on the track and I did that.”

In addition to posting a world-leading time for 2025, Whittaker becomes the No. 2 performer with the equal No. 2 performance on the all-time world list. She only trails the world record of 49.17 set in 2024 by Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who also ran 49.24 last year.

“Isabella is a great athlete and has worked really, really hard,” said Johnson. “Me and the staff has done a fantastic job with this young lady. We’re very happy for her, and very proud of her.

“She took a shot leaving Penn and coming to Arkansas, looking to be part of the history we have in the 400m and our championships at Arkansas. She kept her head down, she got better and better each week. We knew we had an opportunity to do something special if she had a really good run and set it up the right way. She did that, so kudos to her.”

Whittaker, who had a PR of 49.90 from the SEC Indoor, raced in the first section of the 400m while Georgia’s Aaliyah Butler, the world leader at 49.78 heading into the meet, won the second section in 49.97. Another Georgia sprinter, Dejanea Oakley finished third in 51.14.

“It was a reminder that I should be doing this at all times, just running my own race,” noted Whittaker, who raced against Butler in the same in the last three races she had at SEC and NCAA Indoors. “It serves as a reminder to do what I do and not worry about anyone else in my heat, so I actually kind of enjoyed it.

“I also enjoy toeing the line with her, because I know it’s going to be fast anytime we run against each other. It was a different change of pace.”

Whittaker closed out the meet with a split of 49.70 seconds as Arkansas claimed the 4 x 400m relay in 3:25.20, which ranks as the No. 3 performance in collegiate history behind the Razorback collegiate record of 3:21.75 from 2023 and an Arkansas 3:24.09 from 2022.

“I was nervous going into the relay because my legs were feeling terrible,” said Whittaker. “But I was really excited to get it done again while running another sub 50.”

The first three legs of the Arkansas relay included Joanne Reid (53.14), Sanaria Butler (51.10), and Kaylyn Brown (51.26). The Razorbacks defeated Georgia (3:26.07), USC (3:26.97), Tennessee (3:27.25), and Texas A&M (3:30.06).

“We knew we had an opportunity to get a trophy, but we had to win the 4 x 400m relay,” said Johnson. “We knew we had a shot to do it. These young ladies ran their hearts out and gave it their best. We’re excited to be a trophy team.”

Rachel Glenn finished third in the high jump with a clearance of 6-3.25 (1.91) while there was a tie for first place at 6-4.25 (1.94) between Texas Tech’s Temitope Adeshina and Georgia’s Elena Kulichenko. Razorback Sydney Billington placed 12th with a 5-10.75 (1.80) clearance.

Paityn Noe raced in the 3,000m and earned a pair of team points with a seventh-place finish in 9:03.78.