Rhonda Whyte happy to be back

RHONDA WHYTE struck a purple patch from 2017 to 2019, hitting the top of her game at the senior level in the women’s 400-metre hurdles.

The former Maggotty High School athlete, with little or no success at the junior level, joimed the Sprintec Track Club based at GC Foster College where she created a massive upset in 2017 at the National Senior Championships to win the women’s 400-metre hurdles in a then personal best of 54.29 seconds.

Whyte went to the World Championships in London then the Commonwealth Games in 2018 in Australia before suiting up for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

She was seen as the best prospect in the country in the event but the past two years have been miserable for her.

At last Saturday’s Camperdown Classics inside the National Stadium in windy conditions, Whyte easily won the women’s 400 metres in 53.60 seconds, getting the better of Racers Track Club, Jodean Williams, second in 55.13.

It was Whyte’s first competitive race in more than six months and she was happy to get back on the track.

“I am feeling pretty pleased as this is my first race in six months and thank God I was able to finish the race strong and healthy despite the windy conditions,” said the 32-year-old.

She spoke about being missing in action last year.

“Last year for me was like a learning process as I changed camp and I got injured. I used the opportunity to adjust to the new environment, giving myself time to shake off that feeling,” said Whyte, who is now taking orders from coach Okeile Smith at Swept Track Club.

For the upcoming season, she is putting no limitations on herself.

“I am not putting any limitations on myself because of what happened last year. I am always a believer that when you don’t give up, anything is possible as the aim is just to keep working and working and stay focused on myself and stay true to the goals ahead of me,” she continued.

With the National Championships on the horizon, Whyte is confident that she can get back to her best.

“I am very confident despite the mishap last year. I think I can do it like I have in the past. I have the potential, discipline, determination and dedication,” she said.

“No expectations on myself as I have goals in mind and I work towards those. As athletes we put a lot of pressure on ourselves but when you stay focused and be in a humble place and work hard, you will pull through,” she said.