Flatt runs 1:46.51 to just miss 1996 national record 1:46.45 held by Granville, Whittaker joins Cain in eclipsing 2-minute barrier with 1:59.80 effort to edge Baker at Track Night NYC presented by Tracksmith at Icahn Stadium; Cochran, Kipyego win high school miles, with Shea posting 4:16.04 in 1,500

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

A pair of impressive challenges Friday to the all-time national high school marks in the boys and girls 800 meters highlighted Track Night NYC presented by Tracksmith at Icahn Stadium in New York.

Juliette Whittaker of Mount de Sales High in Maryland became only the second prep female athlete to eclipse the 2-minute barrier and Cade Flatt of Marshall County High in Kentucky just missed the boys national record competing in elite fields against several professional athletes.

Flatt ran 1 minute, 46.51 seconds to finish fourth overall, with former Iowa State standout and Kenyan athlete Festus Lagat winning in 1:45.02.

Flatt, an Ole Miss signee, was just behind Nigeria’s Edose Ibadin (1:46.29) and fellow American Vince Crisp (1:46.34), producing the fastest prep performance since Michael Granville of Bell Gardens High in California ran 1:46.45 in 1996.

Flatt also elevated to No. 6 all-time among American Under-20 competitors.

Whittaker, a Stanford commit, edged former Cardinal standout Olivia Baker by a 1:59.80 to 1:59.90 margin, with Wisconsin graduate Brenna Detra clocking 1:59.94 to take third.

“It’s kind of like a blur, it was such a weird race, it felt like it went by so fast,” Whittaker said. “The last 200, just coming around the curve, I just wanted to bring it home.”

Whittaker joined former Bronxville star Mary Cain, who ran 1:59.51 in 2013, as the only prep competitors to achieve sub-2 performances.

“I was kind of like, I want a fast 800 field to just really pull me along to a fast time,” Whittaker said. “It’s just an insane thing to think about. It’s always felt like a barrier that I’ve been trying to get.”

Whittaker also ascended to No. 5 in American Under-20 history.

“I did have to wait a little bit …I wasn’t really sure,” Whittaker said. “Just so much happiness. I feel like I’ve been waiting for a time like that for a while. I was just so happy.”

Sadi Henderson nearly missed eclipsing the barrier, finishing fourth in 2:00.00, followed by Nikki Hiltz (2:02.07) and Sophia Gorriaran (2:00.65) of Moses Brown High in Rhode Island. Gorriaran, a junior, ran 2:00.58 indoors this year, but equaled the fourth-fastest all-time high school outdoor competitor Friday.

In an earlier section of the women’s 800, Charlene Lipsey won in 2:02.10, followed by Danae Rivers (2:03.06) and NCAA Division 3 title favorite Esther Seeland of Messiah (2:03.08).

Mexico’s Alma Cortes prevailed in the women’s 1,500 meters in 4:06.06, with Hiltz doubling back to place second in 4:07.36, just edging former Oklahoma State standout Molly Sughroue (4:07.37) and Swedish athlete Yolanda Ngarambe (4:07.86).

Oklahoma State graduate Jenny Martinez won her section of the women’s 1,500, with sophomore Ellie Shea of Massachusetts, representing Emerging Elites, clocking 4:16.04 to elevate to the No. 12 all-time prep competitor.

Eric Holt triumphed in the men’s 1,500 in 3:40.95, holding off Kendall Muhammad in 3:41.76.

British competitor Lizzie Bird emerged victorious in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:30.57, with American athlete and Northern Iowa assistant coach Alexina Teubel taking second in 9:32.81.

Jean-Simon Desgagnes of Canada clocked 8:22.95 to earn the win in the men’s 3,000 steeplechase, ahead of a trio of Americans in Travis Mahoney (8:24.89), Isaac Updike (8:27.88) and Brody Smith (8:28.60).

Marielle Hall won the women’s 5,000 in 15:29.80, with Grace Moore clocking 15:30.98 and Abbey Wheeler taking third in 15:32.81.

Jenna Mulhern of West Chester Henderson in Pennsylvania, a Furman commit, placed ninth in 16:18.00.

Tim McGowan was victorious in the men’s 5,000 in 13:49.00, with Ernie Pitone placing second in 13:50.13 and Jose Juan Esparza of Mexico taking third in 13:50.60.

Mia Cochran of Moon Area in Pennsylvania, an Arkansas commit, produced an impressive win in the girls high school mile with a 4:42.43 performance. Freshman Zariel Macchia of William Floyd High in New York finished second in 4:47.47 and sophomore Peyton Hollis of Union Catholic High in New Jersey was third in 4:49.88.

Devan Kipyego, a junior at St. Raphael Academy in Rhode Island, prevailed in the boys high school mile in 4:05.51, with Myles Hogan of Fordham Prep, a Princeton commit, clocking 4:05.69 and Georgetown-bound Jackson Barna of Ridge High in New Jersey taking third in 4:07.40.