How Do Whittaker's Freshmen Times Rank Historically?

After Mount De Sales Academy (MD) freshmen Juliette Whittaker ran two incredible US top 5 performances over 3 weeks with a US #3 4:48 1600 at the Pikesville Track Classic on April 6th then ran a US #5 2:07.95 800 at the Scorpion Classic on April 18th, we knew something special and rare had been done by this young talent. But how rare and special?

Well we took a deep dive into the MileSplit.com national database dating back to 2000 to pull up all the fastest freshmen girls 1600 and 800 meter times over nearly 2 decades to see how Whittaker's matched up against others who quickly rose to stardom as freshmen distance running phenoms.

Whittaker is in some incredible company with many high school national champions, NCAA national champions, and Olympians on the list.  She has the 25th fastest freshmen 1600 meter time (including converted mile performances) and even better all-time among freshmen over this nearly 20 year old period in the 800 meter run with the 6th fastest time.

Some of the few names ahead of her in the 800 include the likes of Sammy Watson, Mary Cain, and Ahting Mu. The top time comes just last year by home schooled talent Michaela Rose from Virginia with a 2:06.35 All-American fifth finish at New Balance Nationals. Meanwhile, Whittaker's time last Thursday at the Scorpion Classic ranks ahead of the high school freshmen year bests of a World indoor champion in Chanelle Price and the current American record holder (1:55.61) as well as 2016 Olympian in Ajee Wilson.

It is only mid April too so great opportunity for Whittaker in the right race and more training with better weather to only further ascend up these lists. She is only one of a handful of athletes to appear on both lists joining Mary Cain, Claudia Disomma, Alexa Efraimson, Chelsey Sveinsson, and Ajee Wilson. Cain, Efraimson, and WIlson all went to the pro ranks as high schoolers and bypassed the college racing circuit entirely. 

Pay attention nation as Juliette Whittaker is instantly showing that she has the talent and times historically to become of the nation's next great distance stars. 

30 Sub 4:50 1600m Run Freshmen Girls Times Since 2000