Sophia Gorriaran Hits U.S. Olympic Trials 800m Standard

* Moses Brown School (RI) sophomore Sophia Gorriaran secured another historic mark on Sunday

Photo Credit: MileSplit/Mary Ann Magnant

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Another high school female hit the U.S. Olympic Trials Standard on Sunday, and in the process set a new World U-18 best, too. 

Sophia Gorriaran, a 15-year-old sophomore at Moses Brown School in Rhode Island, set a new overall personal best of 2:02.44 for 800 meters against a women's professional field at the American Track League in Fayetteville, Arkansas, eclipsing the U.S. Olympic Trials standard by just 0.06 seconds. The time is the fourth-fastest effort in high school history indoors. It's also a new World U-18 best.

While Gorriaran finished just a few tenths of a second off Mary Decker's national high school sophomore and 15-year-old record of 2:01.80, the difference here is in how it was timed. Decker's performance was hand-timed in 1974. By virtue of Gorriaran running FAT, she is considered the new U-18 leader. Performances for the U-18 category are not ratified, said senior web editor for World Athletics Jon Mulkeen.

When the U.S. Olympic Trials take place in June, Gorriaran will still technically be 15 -- though USATF allows for athletes who are under the age limit to compete at the Trials given they're turning of age that calendar year. She turns 16 in June. 

Gorriaran's previous indoor best was 2:03.96, which she posted in late January at The VA Showcase, though her career best prior to Sunday was a time of 2:02.90. That race -- also against professionals -- took place at the Ed Murphey Classic on Aug. 22 in Memphis.

On Sunday inside the Randal Tyson Track Center, Gorriaran led for much of the race before succumbing to eventual winner, Great Britain's Adelle Tracey, who won in 2:02.11. Nikki Hiltz was third in 2:02.51.

In January, Mount De Sales junior Juliette Whittaker of Mount De Sales Academy (MD) also qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 2:02.07 in the 800m. It was third-fastest high school girl in history -- and because Whittaker turns 18 in December, it is considered a U20 performance. 

* Cory Mull contributed to this report

American Track League Women's 800m Results