Photos by Steve Pisano
The Whittaker sisters of Mount De Sales Academy in Juliette Whittaker and Isabella Whittaker had quite a weekend in NYC. Both competing at the Hispanic Games over the weekend at the New York Armory, the sophomore Juliette and senior Isabella both won invitational races against top competition in national class times.
Juliette was coming off a US #2 and state record time of 2:07.54 in the 800 meter run at last week's Frostbite Invitational as well as finishing off her cross country season with an All-American 13th place finish at Foot Locker Nationals.
In her first mile race of the indoor season, Whittaker blitzed the invitational field at the Hispanic Games in breaking her second Maryland indoor state record of the week with a new national leading and personal best time of 4:44.75. She had previously posted a 1600 meter best of 4:48 from last spring as a sophomore, so this recent race was really a five second improvement from her previous all-time best at 1600 meters/mile distances.
Her time is currently 9 seconds faster than the next best time in the nation as well. The Hispanic Games victory also automatically qualifiers her for the Millrose Games mile in February.
Not to be out-shined by her little sister, Bella Whittaker also scored a pair of major victories at the Hispanic Games winning the girls 400 meter dash in a state leading and US #3 time of 54.84, while also doubling back to win the 200 meter dash as well in a US #6 PR performance of 24.54.
The older Whittaker has been on fire to start her indoor season including a US flat track #1 300 (39.22) and 1:15 500 win at the Howard County Winter Festival. She tuned up for Hispanic Games after the Holidays in winning the 55 meter dash at the Frostbite Invite in a 7.20 all-time best. She is currently ranked in the top 10 in the country for the 200 (US #6), 300 (US #6), 400 (US #3), and 500 (US #5).
She also will be joining her sister at the prestigous Millrose Games next month as Bella has received an invite to compete in the high school girls 300 in the midst of the pro centric event.
The dazzling performances over the weekend by the Whittaker sisters were nice early birthday gifts for their father Paul Whittaker, who celebrates his birthday today and helps coach the boys squad at Mount St. Joseph School.
