After Squaring Off in 800, Goggans, Willis, Whittaker and Gorriaran Set to Join Forces to go After World U-20 4x800 All-Time Mark Held by Jamaica's Vere Tech

By Mary Albl of DyeStat 

The third weekend in 2021 will bring four of the nation's most talented high school 800-meter runners together to take a shot at history.

Bailey Goggans (Marble Falls, Texas), Roisin Willis (Stevens Point Wis.), Juliette Whitaker (Catonsville, Md.) and Sophia Gorriaran (Providence, R.I.) will team up Sunday as “800 United” in the 4x800-meter relay at the Virginia Showcase in an attempt to break the World U-20 record of 8 minutes, 53.67 seconds.  

A month ago, the quartet were blissfully unaware of the record that has stood for nearly 30 years. Most of them were just happy to have the prospect of stepping onto a track to race. 

“I actually wasn’t aware of that world record until we all got on the phone with our parents,” Willis said. “I wasn’t even sure we were able to get a record or how it would work.”

Added Whittaker: “I didn’t really know about the record, I was just kind of thinking we were doing it for fun. I feel like it hasn’t sunk in that we are going for a world record, but it’s exciting.”

Before a chance at history, the four will square off against one another Saturday evening in the invitational section of the 800 meters, a race that also includes Taylor James of Niwot, Colo., and Makayla Paige of Tewksbury Memorial, Mass.

At 11 a.m. EST Sunday at the Virginia Beach Sports Center, they’ll come together to run the 4x800. The four runners all have personal bests in the 800 of 2:05 or better.

The all-time girls World U-20 record of 8:37.71 was set in 1991 by Jamaica's Vere Tech at the Penn Relays. The quartet could also eclipse the World U-20 all-time indoor mark of 8:53.67 established in 2002 by Boys and Girls High from Brooklyn.

“Honestly, it doesn’t feel real,” Goggans said. “This kind of thing doesn’t get to happen very often, so I’m just happy we got the detail and logistics figured out. I’m just ready to go out and do it.”

Meet the members (in 4x800 order):

Roisin Willis (Junior): Finished the 2020 indoor season with a US#2 800 and personal best of 2:03.05. 

Bailey Goggans (Senior): Finished the 2020 indoor season with a US#6 800 of 2:07.88. Has a PR of 2:04.7. 

Juliette Whittaker (Junior): Finished the 2020 indoor season with a US#1 800 time and personal best of 2:03.01. Also ran US#2 mile time of 4:43.89. 

Sophia Gorriaran (Sophomore): Finished the 2020 indoor sason with a US#3 800 time of 2:03.98. Has a personal best of 2:02.9. Currently has US#2 in the 400 (55.50).

So how did the plan of this all-star relay team get started? 

Goggans, a senior who will attend Texas A&M next fall, was the first to engage the idea. Already signed up for the 800 at the Virginia Showcase, Goggans explained she’s had limited opportunities to run a legit 4x800 relay in her prep career, so she decided to reach out to Willis via text message, who was also listed to run the 800. They both attended the Brooks PR Invitational in 2019 and were acquainted. 

“That was something I had been interested in doing before, some sort of all-star relay, so we kind of worked together and reached out to a few people and were able to form a team with Juliette and Sophia,” Willis said. 

Through social media, texting, and the support of their parents, the four have been in communication since late 2020 about the logistics, and making sure it's a safe and healthy trip. Gorriaran, who has been training in Austin, Texas, did meet up with Goggans for a workout session, but this weekend will be the first time they all get to meet one another in person. 

“We haven’t really talked about training, but we’ve talked about our race order, and we were all trying to find singlets we can race in,” Whittaker said. “But it will be really cool because I don’t know if I’ve run against any of them actually in a race. We’ve heard of each other, and (from a distance) said 'hi,' so it will be really cool to actually be in a relay with each other.” 

While the conversation thus far has been casual, all have indicated they are in a good place heading in the weekend. Gorriaran was the only runner to participate in a full cross country season this past fall, finishing third at the Rhode Island Championships (18:14.07), with the other three athletes focusing on base training and preparing for a track season in whatever form that may look like. 

“Training has been going well,” Whittaker said. “I have a better base I think than last year, and this year more well-rounded base and speed, so I’m really excited and happy to finally get a chance to run.”

Besides Gorriaran, who put down a current US#1 mile time of 4:47.21 and US#2 time in the 400 (55.50) at the Grant Holloway Holiday Invitational, the Virginia Showcase will be the first race of the season for these runners. Gorriaran will have a full lineup this weekend as she’s set to run the 300, 500, 800 and 4x800. 

“I think I’m in pretty good shape. It’s going to be my first 800, so I’m going to try to see what I can run,” she said. 

Added Willis: “I've done some stuff in practice that would indicate I'm in a lot better place than last year, and I'm just excited to see where I’m at. (The 800) it might end up being a more tactical race, rather than the time, but whatever happens I’m ready for the race and to learn from the experience.”

So what will it take from these four runners to actually break the record? This past summer an attempt was made by another all-star relay team of high school runners from Indiana and Massachusetts, but the group called “800 Project” fell short.  While the times indicate a record is definitely achievable for this group, a lot more goes into the making of a standout 800-meter relay leg. 

“We all have strengths in other events besides the 800, which I think is more important,” Willis said. “You can’t just focus on the 800. You have to be fast, you have to have strength and endurance and I think all of us have worked on that, and that’s what makes us good at our event.”

With limited racing in 2020 due to the pandemic, there has been a shift in training and mindset for many of these top runners. 

“I feel like I’ve learned to push myself, without having people to push me and train with,” Goggans said. “I’ve learned I have it in me. I’m just grateful to be able to race and being able to do this meet.”

Sunday’s opportunity is as big as they come for these teens, but like the oblivion to the World U-20 record, the four athletes aren’t putting any pressure on themselves. Most important to them is a chance to have fun and push themselves in a race. 

“Just the opportunity to race in general is amazing,” Whittaker said. “To get either a personal record in the 800 or a world record in the 4x800 would top it all off.”