Taraje Whitfield has some big goals for this outdoor season, and if Saturday's opening invitational was any indication, he's well on his way to a big spring.
The Penn Manor senior won both the high hurdles and the intermediate hurdles at the Pennsylvania Track Classic at Plymouth Whitemarsh. Both times are early-season state leading performances.
Whitfield won the 300-meter hurdles in 39.37. He outlasted Chester's James Jackson in a terrific race to the finish line.
The time is not far off his personal best in the event in the event, which is 38.90, set in mid-May last year at the Lancaster-Lebanon League Championships. But what's even more impressive is this came after Whitfield had to run his preliminary heat of the 110-meter hurdles virtually twice due to a timing error on the first try.
Whitfield then came back for the final of the 110-meter hurdles. He captured the win there in 14.39, which is also not far off his PR in the event (14.27). It was once again a showdown with Jackson, who appeared to have Whifield by a half step advantage heading into the final hurdles. Whitfield was still able to pick up the win in the end.
Saturday was a strong start to the season for Whitfield, who said he hopes to break 14 seconds in the high hurdles this season and 38 seconds in the intermediate hurdles. He'll certainly get good competition on the state level from Ayden Owens of North Allegheny, who set the state record for the indoor 55- and 60-meter hurdles this winter.