BOSTON, (Jan 31) – Roisin Willis shattered the American indoor 800 meters record on Friday at the BU John Thomas Terrier Classic, clocking 1:57.97 to eclipse Ajee’ Wilson’s mark that had stood for nearly six years.
The former Stanford NCAA champion, now running professionally, took down Wilson’s 1:58.29 standard set at the Armory in New York on Feb. 8, 2020. Willis became only the second American woman to break 1:58 indoors over the distance.
“I’m so excited. I feel like we knew it was there, but I was like, can I get it on a random Friday at BU?” Willis said after the race. “But BU is meant for that, so super happy.”
Willis was pushed throughout the race by a strong field that included Britain’s Isabelle Boffey, who crossed the line first in 1:57.43, also accomplishing a career best and moving up the European all-time list. Willis went through 400 meters in 57 seconds flat and led the chasing pack through 600m at 1:27.70 before Buffy made her move with 200 meters remaining.
Read More: Briton Isabelle Boffey Runs World-Leading 1:57.43 at John Thomas Terrier Classic: Results
In what was an exciting final closing meters, Willis went wide in the final 100 meters, attempting to close the gap but couldn’t match Buffy’s kick, though she held on to secure the national record with a 400-meter split of 45.69 after the fast opening.
An elated and shocked Buffy won the race in 1:57.43, setting a new personal best over two seconds and becoming the second-fastest Briton behind 2024 Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson, with Willis crossing the line second at the American record of 1:57.97. Gladys Chepngetich of Clemson and Kenya finished third in 1:58.81.
“When Izzy took it, I think that really helped us get under that 1:58,” Willis said, crediting her competitor’s aggressive racing.
The performance came in Willis’s professional debut season, following a 1:59.59 victory at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. The 25-year-old indicated limited indoor racing plans ahead, with the Millrose Games scheduled as her final indoor meet. She is slated to line up this weekend in the Toyota Women’s 600m at the Nike Track & Field Center at The Armory.
“I just don’t have enough in me for a whole indoors after everything last year,” she said. “I was like, I could go a little bit faster, that’s why I hopped in today. Super happy.”
Several announced competitors, including Stanford’s NCAA indoor and outdoor 2024 champion Juliet Whitaker and Nia Akins, scratched from the event, leaving seven runners on the oval.
