PEPPERDINE TRACK 2025 (JR): Competed in seven outdoor track meets as a junior, specializing in the mid-distance events ... Ran his collegiate-best time of 1:55.74 in the 800-meter dash at the Jim Bush Legends Meet (3/21-22) ... Set the school record in the 600-meter dash with his time of 1:22.51 at the Westmont Sunshine Open (2/8).
PEPPERDINE XC 2024 (JR): Competed in four races as a junior ... Ran his lifetime-best 6-kilometer time of 20:24.2 at the Waves Invite (8/30) ... Ran his season-best 8-kilometer time of 28:17.5 at The Master's Invitational (10/5).
PEPPERDINE TRACK 2024 (SO): Competed at six outdoor track meets, specializing in the 800-meter dash and running in two relays … Ran a collegiate-best 800-meter time of 1:59.17 at the Rafer Johnson & Jackie Joyner meet at UCLA (3/23).
PEPPERDINE XC 2023 (SO): Competed at three cross country races as a sophomore … Was Pepperdine’s 11th runner at the Waves Invitational (9/9) … Clocked a season-best 8-kilometer time of 27:37.3 at the UC Riverside Invitational (9/16) … Competed at the Bronco Invitational open race as well (10/14).
PEPPERDINE TRACK 2023 (FR): Competed in five out of the nine meets … Ran mainly the 800 meter, and also competed in the 4x400 relay once … Had a season-best of 2:03.0 in the 800 meter at the Vince O’Boyle Track and Field Classic (3/31).
PEPPERDINE XC 2022 (FR): Competed in three out of the six meets … Had a season best of 29:18.8 in the 8K at the UCR Annual Cross Country Invitational (9/17).
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Lafayette High School, located in Lexington, Ky., in 2022 … Set the school record for the indoor 800 meters, collecting a time of 1:57.84, which was also his personal best … Named one of the top-10 runners in his division in the Fayette County Public Schools … Earned All-Area 6 Team postseason honors in 2020 and 2021 … A three-time all-state runner in track in the 800 meters, 4x400 and 4x800 … A two-time regional champion in cross country … Helped the Lafayette High School track team to a regional championship … Had a second-place finish in the indoor 800 meter state championship … Had personal bests of 16:28 in the 5K, 4:30.57 in the 1,600 meters and 51.00 in the 400 meter (4x400 meter anchor split).
PERSONAL: Majoring in computer science/math ... Born in Vancouver, Wash. … Son of Shane and Ivy Whitaker … Has one sibling, Nathan … Chose Pepperdine because “of the top-tier campus and academics, and the coaches were so welcoming to me and willing to work with me before I even entered the program. The team seems to have a really great bond.”
FAVORITES: Hobbies include playing piano, studying running shoes and related technologies, shopping and watching TV/relaxing … Lists sports hero as Molly Seidel … Favorites include Grant Fisher (pro athlete), Bowerman Track Club (pro team), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (book), Unbroken (movie), Kanye West (musical artist), sushi (food) and soccer (sport other than running).
