Union Catholic's Paige Sheppard Places 9th at the U.S. Track & Field National Championships

Paige Sheppard of Union Catholic finished ninth in the women's 800-meter final at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island in New York. The 16-year-old rising senior ran 2:02.78. Union County Life reports on the achievement.

Sheppard, who does not turn 17 until October 24, was the only runner in the nine-woman final under the age of 21. The field featured six professional athletes and two collegiate runners.

Sheppard earned her spot in the final with a performance in Friday's first round, finishing fifth in the opening heat in 2:00.99 to advance on time. In Sunday's final, she went through the opening lap in 59.33 seconds before closing in 1:03.45 to finish in 2:02.78.

Nia Akins won the race, competing professionally for HOKA, in 1:59.25. Akins is the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials champion in the 800 and captured her fifth U.S. national title.

Making a final at the U.S. Outdoor Championships as a high school athlete is extraordinarily rare. The last New Jersey high school athlete to reach a final at the meet was Union Catholic legend Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who advanced to the 400-meter hurdles final at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials as a 16-year-old.

Sheppard holds New Jersey records in the indoor and outdoor mile, the indoor and outdoor 1,600 meters, and the indoor 800. She has won three national high school titles.

She is scheduled to compete next at the World Under-20 Championships, August 5-9 in Eugene, Oregon, where she will represent the United States in the women's 800 meters.

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FAQ

Q: What did Paige Sheppard accomplish at the U.S. Track and Field Championships?
A: Paige Sheppard finished ninth in the women's 800-meter final at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships on July 28 at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island. She ran a time of 2:02.78. She was 16 years old and the only runner under 21 in the nine-woman final.

Q: How did Sheppard qualify for the final?
A: Sheppard earned her spot in the final by finishing fifth in the opening heat on Friday, July 25, with a time of 2:00.99, advancing on time to the nine-runner final.

Q: Who won the race?
A: Nia Akins won the women's 800-meter final in 1:59.25. Akins competes professionally for HOKA and is the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials champion in the 800. This was her fifth U.S. national title.

Q: Why is this achievement rare?
A: Making a final at the U.S. Outdoor Championships as a high school athlete is extraordinarily rare. The last New Jersey high school athlete to reach a final at the meet was Union Catholic legend Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who advanced to the 400-meter hurdles final at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials as a 16-year-old.

Q: What are Sheppard's other accomplishments?
A: Sheppard holds New Jersey records in the indoor and outdoor mile, the indoor and outdoor 1,600 meters, and the indoor 800. She has won three national high school titles.

Q: What is Sheppard's next competition?
A: Sheppard is scheduled to compete at the World Under-20 Championships, August 5-9, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon, representing the United States in the women's 800 meters.