Bonner & Prendergast’s Whitfield hopes hot streak continues at Ship

David Whitfield is peaking at the right time.

Nearly a month ago, the junior from Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast ran what was then a personal best of 1 minute, 55.94 seconds to win the 800-meter run at the boys Delco Championships. A week later, he ran 1:56.26 to finish third in the event at the Catholic League Championships.

Then, running on just four day’s rest, Whitfield turned in the best time of his career (1:53.38) on a warm day at Benjamin L. Johnson Stadium to edge his good friend, Stephen McClellan of St. Joseph’s Prep, for the District 12 Class AAA 800-meter title and earn the top seed in the event at the PIAA Track & Field Championships.

Whitfield likes running in warm weather and he’s going to get his wish. The temperature is expected to be in the low 90s for Friday’s trial and Saturday’s final.

“I feel like I can break a sweat,” Whitfield said. I feel like I get loose a lot faster. And running in warmer weather just feels better than running when it’s overcast, windy and cold.”

***

Whitfield is just one of the athletes for Delco fans to keep an eye on. Another one to watch is Penn Wood’s Sekou Kanneh. He’s seeded fifth in the 110-meter high hurdles and sixth in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. He’ll also be running the leadoff leg on Penn Wood’s 4 x 400-meter relay.

Keon Rantin of Glen Mills hopes to come home with three medals. He’s seeded sixth in the 200 and also part of the 4 x 100- and 4 x 400-meter relay teams, which are seeded fifth and third, respectively. Springfield’s Ache Hall is entered in three individual events. He’s seeded sixth in the triple jump, 13th in the 300 hurdles and 14th in the 110 hurdles.