22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Sophia Gorriaran

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Sophia Gorriaran

Sophia Gorriaran is on her way to becoming one of the greatest athletes to ever come out of Rhode Island. 

At 16 years old, the Moses Brown junior has already established herself on the national track-and-field stage.

In 2020, she set the national record for freshman girls in the 800 meters indoors.

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In 2021, she ran in the 800 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials in Oregon, where she was the youngest runner competing. 

Her time? 2:02.26 — good for the U.S. high school sophomore girls’ record, beating Mary Decker’s previous record of 2:02.29, which had stood since 1974.

Last year, she set Rhode Island state indoor track and field records in the 500 and 800 distances.

She won state titles in the 300 and 1500 meters, along with the 4x400 meter relay. 

But as evidenced by her Olympic trials performance, Gorriaran regularly competes with — and beats — collegiate and post-collegiate athletes on the oval. 

So far in 2022? Gorriaran this week ran the 11th all-time fastest 500 meters at the 757 Showdown, according to MileSplit (and you can watch the race here). 

Don’t just watch for big things from Gorriaran in 2022. 

Watch for more awe-inspiring, record-breaking performances from a high schooler — whose potential appears to be limitless.