Some people are just born to rewrite the record books. And as for this 24-year-old Penn State graduate, that’s exactly what she’s got on her mind. After all, on March 15, at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston, she scorched the indoor 400m, finishing in an astounding 49.24 seconds. But this wasn’t just another win. In the process, she had also broken Britton Wilson’s North American record of 49.48s and eclipsed even Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s previous mark of 50.36s. But what’s next for this undeniable star?

After all, starting in lane five, Isabella Whittaker surged through the final lap, collapsing in triumph as she claimed NCAA, American, and North American records, trailing only Femke Bol globally. This weekend, Whittaker returns to her old stomping grounds at Franklin Field for the Grand Slam Track, a revolutionary new league founded by Olympic legend Michael Johnson.

Competing in the women’s long sprints, she’ll tackle the 400m on Saturday and the 200m on Sunday. This event, boasting a massive $12.6 million purse, will pit her against other elite athletes like the formidable Marileidy Paulino. Can she harness the energy of her home track to truly shine? “Grand Slam is definitely doing something that’s never been done before,” Whittaker enthusiastically told the Daily Pennsylvanian.

“It’s very fan-centric, which I think is great because the experiences that the fans are having are really what build the sport.” Her excitement for the event’s innovative format, which features point-based races with up to $100,000 for first place, perfectly reflects her vision for track and field growth. After earning a solid $30,000 with a third-place finish at the Miami Slam just three weeks ago (where she clocked 50.38s in the 400m and a personal-best 22.76s in the 200m), Whittaker’s confidence is soaring.

But how does she handle the immense pressure that comes with competing at this level? “There was definitely a little bit of anxiety going into my first pro [race],” Whittaker admitted. “I just want to show out, especially right now; it matters a lot.” As a “Challenger” in only her second professional outing, she’s hungry to solidify her name among the sport’s elite.

With her meditation practice and training under Arkansas coach Chris Johnson, Isabella Whittaker is perfectly poised to chase victory. Will she claim the top prize and elevate her legacy even further this weekend? Albeit a lot of grind has gone into her rise.

Isabella Whittaker’s Grit-Fueled Ascent to Track Stardom

Well, Isabella Whittaker’s path to becoming a track star wasn’t easy; it was built on pure determination and a tough training schedule. When she moved to Arkansas for her last NCAA season in 2024, leaving Penn, where she’d set Ivy League records, she faced a whole new challenge with coach Chris Johnson. Coach Johnson saw Isabella’s potential and really cranked up her training, pushing her to become a professional powerhouse.

But how did she handle such an intense change? “The training was pretty rough in the beginning. Honestly, it’s just rough all around, but obviously it’s been paying off,” Isabella told the Daily Pennsylvanian. To get her ready for races like the 400m, where she blazed to a record-breaking 49.24 seconds indoors in 2025, Johnson even had her running 800m in practice.

Isabella admitted she “hated every second of” those sessions, as they forced her way out of her comfort zone as a sprinter. So, what kept her going? “Eventually, I feel like there was an ‘aha’ moment,” Isabella shared. “I could feel myself really getting used to this, and my body sort of understanding what it needed to do to survive.”

This breakthrough — a mix of mental toughness and her body adapting—has her ready for Grand Slam Track. Can she turn all that hard work into a win?