1:48.50.
That's the first sub-1:50 800 on Colorado soil by a high school athlete.
And it's a new Colorado state record.
And it belongs to Mountain Vista senior Harrison Witt.
Witt captured his second Colorado state title of the 2021 season by smashing the six year-old 800 state record by over two seconds. The previous record of 1:50.59 was held by Blake Yount.
Conditions were nearly perfect for a record attempt Friday night at the Liberty Bell Invitational in Littleton. Temperatures were in the low 70s and there was minimal wind.
A hot early pace set the tone as Witt and William Merrick cruised through the opening 200 in just over 25 seconds. Witt and Merrick separated from the pack in the second 200, and reached the bell lap just over 54 seconds.
Witt was firing on all eight cylinders as he took the bell lap.
The third 200 was were the Mountain Vista senior went from chasing the state record, to running in front it. Before he even crossed the finish line it was obvious to Witt, and the crowd, that he was about to make history.
"I looked at the clock and it said something like 1:45, and I couldn't believe it," Witt said. "I just threw my hands up, and waved at my parents in the crowd. It was a pretty cool moment."
The Mountain Vista senior, who is headed to Princeton University in the fall, captured his second state record over the past month, while Merrick finished second just off the previous record, running 1:50.74.
It was the second time in the past month that Witt rewrote the Colorado state record books - several weeks ago he ran a 1,600 state record of 4:05.18.
"It's pretty special," Witt said of holding both records. "I'm just really glad to be here and to accomplish this with my teammates, and with my family. It's something we all worked towards. It's not something I could've done on my own."
Currently his 1:48.50 ranks No. 2 nationally.
