Running unchallenged in the 800, Natalie Dumas raced to her 6th national title Saturday night at Virginia Beach Nationals. It was her final indoor race competing for Eastern.
Dumas set a meet-record 2:06.75 running away from the field and winning by 25 meters over Stella Blanchard of the Wilberforce School in Plainsboro.
The previous meet record was 2:08.92 by Kate Putnam of North Syracuse High in Cicero, N.Y., in 2023.
Dumas went out in 29.73 and came through 400 in 60.74 and already had a 15-meter lead. With an insurmountable lead, she cruised home with 32.56 and 33.47 final 200s.
Dumas still ran within 1 ½ seconds of her indoor PR and South Jersey record of 2:05.30, which she ran at Armory Nationals last weekend.
Last winter, Dumas won the 400 at Virginia Beach Nationals in 53.66 and then outdoorst she won national titles in the 400, 800 and 400-meter hurdles at West Philly Nationals. She won her 5th U.S. title Saturday night when she anchored Eastern’s mixed 1,600-meter relay.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 