Real Rhonda Whyte steps up for gold

BARRANQUILLA, Colombia

Rhonda Whyte has the character of a warrior. After falling behind into fifth position at the seventh hurdle in the women's 400m hurdles final on Tuesday night due to nagging sprained right ankle, she pulled off a gutsy comeback run to win her first gold medal for Jamaica here at the 23rd Central American and Caribbean Games.

And, according to Whyte, the never yielding character that she displayed in the race is a natural part of who she is.

"It is not just on the track, it is who I am as a person," she said with a smile. "I don't like to give up in anything that I am doing."

It is for this reason why the Maurice Wilson-coached athlete believes that she will become a world beater before hanging up her spikes.

MY TECHNIQUE

"I want to become the best at what I do and I know I can. I just have to work on my technique," Whyte said after she was awarded the gold medal. "Now that my season is over, I have to just come back next season and work on my technique and the first part of my race."

Whyte, who has a personal best of 54.29 seconds, won the race in 55.08.

"I was running a little timid because I have a swollen ankle but I was able to finish strong," Whyte said. "When I was left behind I remembered that race at trials (National Championship) when I was in fifth place and I came home strong so I thought I could do the same."

Her teammate, Rushell Clayton, fought hard to deliver the quinella she and Whyte promised, but she was beaten into fourth with 55.30. Zudikey Rodriguez of Mexico won the silver medal with 55.11 while Zurian Hechavarria of Cuba finished third with 55.13.