National High School Records Through the Years

Photo by John Nepolitan

Girls Indoor Record – 600 meters

Samantha Watson (Rush-Henrietta HS, Henrietta, New York)

Performance  – 1:27.13

Date – February 4, 2017

Place – The Armory, NYC

Meet – Armory Track Invitational

Previous Record - 1:28.67 by Watson January 21, 2017, at The Armory

Watson had a busy winter track season in 2017, breaking national high school records five times, at three different distances – the 600 meters, as shown here, nine years ago this week, plus the 800 and the 1,000. One week after this record-setting 600, nine years ago this week, she ran 2:01.78 in the 800 Feb. 11, 2017 at the Millrose Games, breaking the 43-year-old record held by the legendary Mary Decker. She broke the 1,000-meter record twice at that year’s USA Nationals. Her excellent time in the 600 nevertheless lasted just two years, as the future Olympic 800 champion, Athing Mu (Trenton, New Jersey), ran 1:23.57 in 2019. 

National High School Records Through the Years appears once a week, compiled and written by a track historian, Jack Pfeifer (Lake Oswego, Oregon). Inquiries may be directed to him by email (jack.pfeifer@gmail.com).     

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