In late June, The Gatorade Company announced that Jaden Price-Whitehead of Upper Dublin High School as its 2019-20 Gatorade Pennsylvania Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Price-Whitehead is the first Gatorade Pennsylvania Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Upper Dublin High School.

The award recognizes athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.

The 5-foot-9, 140-pound junior soared 24 feet, 3.25 inches to win the long jump at the indoor state championship meet this past winter. Price-Whitehead also took third in the triple jump. His season-best long jump of 25-0 ranked as the nation’s No. 1 performance among prep competitors in the 2020 indoor campaign. Price-Whitehead also won the long jump in the Emerging Elite division of the New Balance Nationals Outdoor in 2019.

A devoted member of his church community and the Black Student Union, Price-Whitehead has distributed food baskets for underprivileged families during the holidays and has volunteered locally on behalf of a youth track team.

“What Jaden lacks in size, he makes up for with his heart, drive and desire to compete and be the best,” said Upper Dublin High School coach Floyd Dinkins. “His work ethic is second to none, and he puts in the time to perfect his skills to be the best when it matters the most. The sky’s the limit for Jaden and I can’t wait to see how far he goes.”

Photo: Jaden Price-Whiteheads’ Instagram