Whipple, a sophomore, was named Most Valuable Performer at the 2004 Iowa Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships. In addition to the Conference decathlon title on May 8, Whipple added first-place finishes in the 400-meter hurdles (53.16 seconds) and the 4x400 relay (3:17.29). Times in both those events were NCAA provisional qualifying times and the 400-meter hurdle mark broke the Conference record set in 1987 by Simpson’s Kip Janvrin (53.34 seconds). Whipple also finished fifth in the 110-meter hurdles (15.83 seconds). (IIAC Male Athlete of the Week)
