McDonald happy with Penn Relays success
EDWIN ALLEN High school athlete Gabrielle McDonald has been having an excellent season with several spectacular performances on the track.
McDonald, who started her high school career at St Andrew High before moving to Holmwood Technical then Edwin Allen, was a double winner at the ISSA Boys and Girls’ Championships in Class One. She won the 100m hurdles in a record 13.12 seconds and then captured the 400m hurdles Open in 56.53 seconds, a world junior leading time.
McDonald continued her winning ways at the Penn Relays last Thursday, taking the 400m hurdles championship event in 58.65.
“Patience, hard work and determination have been the key to my success this year,” said McDonald on Friday.
“Leaving Holmwood to attend Edwin Allen was a very hard decision, but I prayed hard about it and God answered my prayers.”
According to McDonald, the change in environment has played a pivotal role in her success this season.
“A new environment and new coaching techniques, along with being injury-free, have also helped a lot this season, and competing against Holmwood was a big motivational factor as I was pumped up whenever I competed against them,” she added.
She is very satisfied with her performance here.
“It is a good feeling winning at the Penn Relays as I just went to do my thing. I followed my coach’s advice and executed well,” she said.
“I am kind of disappointed with the time, but I think Nicolee Foster’s absence contributed to this as she has become my main rival in the event. If she was there, I think I would have gone much faster.”
McDonald, who prefers the sprint hurdles, stated that Australia’s Sally Pearson is her role model.
“I like Sally’s style of running and I prefer the sprint hurdles as I know that I am really fast”, said McDonald, who stated that her next focus is on the National Junior Championships in June before deciding on an overseas college.