Watch above: It was a busy day at Foote Field Sunday as the city hosted the Edmonton International Track Classic. Kevin Jesus has a roundup of the day’s events.
EDMONTON – Hometown pressure and an annoying head wind all contributed to a disappointing showing for Angela Whyte at the Edmonton International Track Classic.
The two-time Olympian (2004 & 2008) finished 6th in the Women’s 100m Hurdles with a time of 13.73 seconds.
“I’m very upset with myself” said a visibly disappointed Whyte. “I’m not really a head wind runner and that needs to change, I know that. I mean everybody has to run into it, but I think I let that get to me early on.”
The 34-year-old pledges to focus on her training ahead of the Commonwealth Games, which are being held in Glasgow, Scotland in a few weeks.
“I’m going to talk to my coach and if I have to run into a head wind every single practice, I will set up a fan blowing in my face so I can get used to it because it can’t be an excuse any more.”
Competing on her home track was also a factor, but she refuses to use that as an excuse.
“I felt some pressure, you know, I’m seeing myself on cars and banners and stuff like that and I’m not used to that kind of attention.”
WATCH: Angela Whyte calls 100m hurdles performance abysmal
Whyte finished well behind the winner, Jackie Coward of the United States (13.29) and fellow Commonwealth Games teammate Brianne Theisen-Eaton (13.37). Interestingly, Theisen-Eaton still carries a picture of her and Whyte that was taken when she was a young teen.
Whyte will now shift her attention to the Commonwealth Games which are being held July 23 to August 3. After winning Silver at the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Games, Whyte hopes to finally bring home the Gold and end the season on a high note.
FINAL RESULTS (Women’s 100m Hurdles):
Gold: Jackie Coward (USA) – 13.29sec
Silver: Brianne Theisen-Eaton (Canada) – 13.37sec
Bronze: LaVonne Idlette (Dominican Republic) – 13.43sec
The Edmonton International Track Classic was held at Foote Field. The event attracted some high calibre athletes including this year’s top ranked 100m runner Justin Gatlin (USA), and Olympic Gold Medallists Warren Weir (Jamaica) and Francena McCorory (USA). A total of 14-athletes from Canada’s Commonwealth Games team competed in Edmonton this weekend.
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