Adidas Indoor Nationals - PA Boys Field Preview
Championship Long Jump - Saturday, 12:30 P.M.
Jaden Price-Whitehead of Upper Dublin never got his shot at winning a national title last winter. After joining the very exclusive 25-foot long jump club at the TFCAofGP Meet of Champions last winter, Price-Whitehead was in the driver's seat to chase a national title in the event at New Balance Nationals Indoor. COVID-19, of course, forced the cancelation of the national meet.
Now Price-Whitehead, a senior, will get his shot at his national title in the long jump on Saturday afternoon. He enters the weekend at US#1 with a 24-10.75 -- a little over a inch shy of his PR of 25-0 from last year. Surely, that 25-foot mark is on his mind, but most importantly, he will look to get the national title he never got the opportunity to get a year ago. And he's the one to beat.
One other boy in the field -- NJ's Kaelen Mitchell -- has leapt over 24 feet this season. He'll be one to watch, along with Florida's Leonard Mustari, who has jumped 23-11.5 this winter. The Haverford School's Curtis Weh is worth keeping an eye on. He leapt a best of 22-10.25 earlier this winter.
Championship Triple Jump - Sunday, 2:35 P.M.
Upper Dublin's Jaden Price-Whitehead will turn his attention to the triple jump when the long jump finishes up on Saturday afternoon. He will enter the triple jump at US No. 5 and one of two boys ranked inside the top five of the country entered in AIN.
Johnny Brackins of Missouri comes in as the top seed and US No. 1 with his best leap of 50-0, which came at the VA Showcase at Virginia Beach earlier this winter. Price-Whitehead put down a triple jump PR this season -- a 48-8 at the East Coast Invite, which was also held at VA Beach. Price-Whitehead will have a shot at the title here, but it's going to take his best against Brackins.
Championship Shot Put - Sunday, 11:40 A.M.
There are four PA entries in the Championship shot put, set for Sunday starting in the morning and going into the afternoon. It won't, however, include PA#1 and US#2 Connor Vass-Gal of Wilmington, who is not entered. There is still some good PA talent in the field, though.
Northern Lebanon's Dylan Lambrecht joined the 60-foot club in the shot earlier this season with a big toss of 60-3 at the VA Showcase. He'll return to the VA Beach circle on Sunday, looking to improve on that mark that has him at PA#2 and US#9.
Also in the Championship field are Plum's Logan Parker (PA#4 57-6.5), Hempfield Area's Daniel Norris (PA#5 57-5.5) and Knoch's Joshua Rohland (PA#8 53-3).
Championship Weight Throw - Sunday, 2:35 P.M.
Nazareth Area's Collin Burkhart will be in the mix for the title in the weight throw on Sunday afternoon. The senior and Penn State recruit claimed three wins in the weight this season, the first of which came with his PR and now US#3 toss of 72-0.5. US#1 Logan Coles and US#2 Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan -- both from Rhode Island -- are also in the field. Both are coming off a big meet this past week that saw them throw season bests. Coles leads the way with a best of 77-11.75. But expect Burkhart to be right there in the mix for the top spot.
Hempfield Area's Daniel Norris (61-10) and Knoch's Joshua Rohland (59-5) are both entered, as well.
Championship Pole Vault - Sunday, 1:25 P.M.
PA#1 and PA#2 will hit the runway on Sunday for the Championship pole vault. Unionville's Jack Miles, the state leader with a best of 15-2, is the top-ranked PA boy in the field. Miles has twice made the trip to the VA Beach facility, taking second at the VA Showcase and third at the East Coast Invitational. He cleared 15-2 at a Philly Jumps Club meet.
Hershey's Justin Rogers enters AIN at PA#2 with a best of 15-0 this winter. He went 15-6 at a VaultWorX meet this past summer.
Championship High Jump - Friday, 6:05 P.M.
Springside Chestnut Hill's Henry Banks Brandstadter is the lone Pennsylvania entry in the high jump, which is scheduled for Friday night. It's been a big season for Brandstadter, who sits at PA#1 on the season. He cleared 6-5 at a meet in New Jersey a few weeks ago and has jumped 6-4 a few others times this season. His best of 6-5 puts him tied at US#19 this winter.