FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas sprinter Isabella Whittaker was named the national women’s indoor track athlete of the year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Monday following her collegiate and American record in the 400 meters at the NCAA meet.
Whittaker’s winning time of 49.24 seconds topped former Razorback Britton Wilson’s previous collegiate record of 49.48 set at the 2023 NCAA meet. It was the fastest time in the world in 2025 and the second-fastest time in history, behind Dutch professional Femke Bol’s world record of 49.17 from 2024.
“The biggest thing I was thinking about was that I just wanted to win,” Whittaker said.