© Copyright – 2015 – Athletics Illustrated
Two-time Olympian Angela Whyte of Edmonton, Alberta will be moving to Washington State University as an assistant coach. She was previously at the University of New Mexico as well as the University of Idaho, which she graduated from in 2003. One of her coaches at Idaho, Wayne Phipps, is the current head coach at Washington. The move was long anticipated, however, she has been waiting on the status on her work visa, therefore the announcement was delayed. She will be coaching athletes who compete in the sprints, jumps and hurdles.
Whyte told Athletics Illustrated, “Well, first, the move to WSU is great. I’m happy and looking forward to working with the athletes. It isn’t much of a move geographically, since WSU and U of I are neighbouring schools. But this is a big move coaching wise; moving to the PAC-12. I was fortunate to work with Coach Phipps at the U of I. And he is my personal coach, so when he became the new director of the WSU track and field program it made sense for me to go as well.”
In addition to competing in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Whyte is also a three-time medallist in the Commonwealth Games. She won silver both in the 2006 Melbourne and 2010 Delhi Games, then bronze as a 34-year-old at the 2014 Glasgow Games. Whyte has so far competed in the IAAF World Track and Field Championships eight times including six outdoor championships during her career. She has also won two Pan-American Games medals including silver in 2011 Guadalajara, Mexico as well as bronze in 2007 at the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil event.
In May she turns 35. When asked about retirement she said, “As far as me retiring, it’s not happening in the immediate future. I will continue to compete and am working towards the Pan-Am Games (Toronto) and World Championships (Beijing) that both take place this year and on to 2016 (Rio Olympic Games). Being at WSU will allow me to do both. It is a great opportunity to continue my track career and my development as a coach.”
During her two-year stint as an athlete at Idaho, she broke a total of 13 school records. She has represented Canada in at least 20 global championships. The hurdles event in Canada has developed a competitive sport where Whyte has had to fight for a spot on Team Canada against the likes of multi-time international medallists Perdita Felicien, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep as well as heptathlete and hurdler Jessica Zelinka. Additionally, there are Phylicia George and Nikkita Holder, who are very competitive – all are from Ontario.
Whyte specialises primarily in the 100m hurdles; however, she has competed in the 55m, 60m, 100m and 200m distances in the sprints and hurdles as well as the 400m hurdles, heptathlon and long jump.
In a media release, Phipps said, “Angela is a very personable and very humble person for a world class athlete. She’s done nearly all events and she can coach just about all events. Some of the training she does for the hurdles involves multi-events and benefit her hurdles races. And that matches her personality. She wants to be world class in a number of events,” said Phipps.
Personal bests:
55m 7.01
60m 7.36
100m 11.57
200m 23.74
800m 2:23.68
100mh 12.63
High Jump 1.69
Long Jump 6.23
Shot Put 13.26
Javelin 40.02
Heptathlon 6018
Indoor
60m 7.36
50mh 6.91
55mh 7.48
60mh 7.92
Long Jump 5.90
