Phylicia George: My new athlete to root for

[preston]

I just read the article on Phylicia George that was on the front page http://www.cbc.ca/sports/trackandfield/ ... peful.html and I'm a new fan. She made the Daegu final after winning her semi in a new PB of 12.73 but she wasn't even on the radar for the previous 3 years. She was 39th best in the NCAA's her senior year.

Here are her best times for 2010 according to Becca's site http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/A ... AID=604359

13.82a 1.9 V F 27-Mar Yellow Jacket Invitati..
13.84a 1.2 V F 10-Apr Sea Ray Relays
13.81a 1.2 V F 17-Apr UConn Spring Invitatio...
13.57a 1.4 Co F 24-Apr Penn Relays
13.39a V P 2-May BIG EAST Championships
13.54a -1 V S 15-May IC4A Championships
13.65a -0.8 V P 15-May IC4A Championships
13.69a 0.2 V F 15-May IC4A Championships
13.60a 1.1 V S 29-May NCAA Division I East R...
13.43a 1.2 V P 29-May NCAA Division I East R...

Here is her college progression:
2007 Outdoor Fr 14.52aw
2008 Outdoor So 13.71a
2009 Outdoor Jr 13.74a
2010 Outdoor Sr 13.39a


I think the 13.39 never made the IAAF list because it didn't have a wind indicator. But, this is hardly the CV that says finalist in Daegu the next year (again, she won her semi!). Could this be the next Canadian medal at 100h? I think so. Either way, she has my attention now.

[pakillo]

Re: Phylicia George: My new athlete to root for

strongest Canadian event at the moment. With Lopes-Schliep coming back will be very interesting battle for the 3-member team!

[Mighty Favog]

Re: Phylicia George: My new athlete to root for

I saw her at a little all-comers meet in Windsor last June. I had no idea who she was, but right after her race I turned to Chris Nickinson of RunnerSpace.com and said "Who was that? She's going places". He didn't know who she was either but we both made a mental note.

[Per Andersen]

Re: Phylicia George: My new athlete to root for

There is also Nikita Holder, 12.84 last year down from 13.60 in 2010. She has 8.00, even faster than Phyllis George this winter. They are both born in 1987. I've seen them once and I sure can't tell them apart. Maybe Mojo can
Angela Whyte is still around and could also go sub 13 this season.

[trackonthebrain]

Re: Phylicia George: My new athlete to root for

These are some unbelievable progressions. Just as good as some of the US hurdlers - or even better. Boy these must be some of the greatest coaches in the World, I thought. So I read the article and I see who her coach is. None other than the World re-known ex 200 meter specialist and '88 Olympian - Desai Williams. Wow!

The same Desai Williams who was implicated in the Charlie Francis/Dr. Jamie Astaphan doping regime years ago involving Ben Johnson, Mark Mckoy, Angela Taylor, Desai and others? I think there was also a Clemson connection for the Canadiens at that time - maybe even involving another notable character - Mark Block?

Is it possible, I thought....no....no....no way.....

Just another example of a great athlete who underachieved all through college - and then just decided - to stop underachieving - and go get that Olympic Gold medal.

Hooray track and field!! Another Cinderella story! Like Tianna Madison in the sprints, Shelly Ann Fraser before her, Carmelita and many, many other great stories.

Hats off to Phylicia!

A Sally Pearson upset in the works maybe?

Anything is possible in track and field.

[preston]

Re: Phylicia George: My new athlete to root for

I will watch out for Holder as well, but what particularly shocked me about George was her 11.38 with nearly 2m/s negative wind! That gives her the speed of the sub-12.50 girls; Holder doesn't have that, her PB is 12.14.