Rising sprinting star Kaylin Whitney goes to work at Pan Am Games
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified Kaylin Whitney in a photo caption. Whitney is on the right.
TORONTO — Few teenagers would pick their day job over their prom.
Not American sprinting phenom Kaylin Whitney, who is looking to showcase her talent to a wider audience at the Pan American Games.
The 17-year-old sprinter qualified for the women’s 200-meter final in impressive fashion on Thursday by winning her semifinal heat in a time of 22.68 seconds.
Whitney hopes to become the next great American female sprinter despite the pressure and weight of expectation that is building around her.
“I take it day-by-day. It’s a job, but it’s a fun job,” Whitney said on Thursday from the Athletics Stadium at York University. “This is what I am supposed to do. God put me here to do this.”
Her dedication to the track has brought many successes and rewards, early in life.
At age 16, Whitney set world records in the 100 and 200 meters at the youth level. She penned a professional contract with Nike while still in high school. She has competed in the Diamond League circuit, allowing her to tour Europe and see another part of the world.
But her dedication means she will be going to college online after having already missed out on a lot of normal teenage moments.
“It’s tough for my friends and family, I made some big sacrifices and can’t do normal 17-year-old things. Like I missed my prom because I was (competing),” Whitney said. “But I’d rather wear the USA jersey than my prom dress any day.”
Not since Marion Jones has an American dominated women's sprinting. Jones won the 100 and 200 at the 2000 Olympics before being stripped of her five medals won in Sydney for doping. The last American woman to win the 100 Olympic title was Gail Devers in 1996. American Carmelita Jeter won silver in 2012. In the 200, Allyson Felix won gold and two silver medals at the last three Summer Games.
Whitney is coached by Olympic gold medalist Dennis Mitchell, who served a two-year doping ban for testing positive for banned testosterone in 1998. Working with Mitchell also means Whitney trains with Justin Gatlin. Gatlin has been the fastest man in the men's 100 this year, but he also carries the baggage of a four-year drug ban.
Whitney shrugs off the questions about Mitchell and credits the three-time Olympian in helping her achieve much of what she has up to now.
“We never talk about (the doping ban). It’s in the past, it happened. Now we’re moving forward to be the best coach and athlete we can be,” the Clermont, Florida native said on Thursday. “He’s everything in one, he’s like a second dad. I can really talk to him and we can connect on a different level than just track.”
Rose Monday, head coach of the U.S. track and field team at the Pan Ams, doesn’t expect Mitchell’s position to overshadow or distract Whitney from reaching her objectives.
“She seems mature enough that that is not a problem. (Mitchell) served his time, his penance, I don’t see him being that type of a person, as I know him now,” Monday said. “She doesn’t let it bother her. She’s coming into it now, she has nothing to do with what went on in the past.”
Monday believes Whitney can achieve great things if she stays the course and continues to brush off distractions — about Mitchell or joyful moments of youth she will miss out on.
“We’re going to see great things from her. She is a young lady beyond her years, you wouldn’t think she was a high school senior,” Monday said. “When athletes have the opportunity to be world class at such a young age we normally see them continue up the spectrum.”
Whitney showed that calm and poise on Thursday as she came from behind to edge Jamaican sprinter Kerron Stewart, a three-time Olympic medalist.
“This year it has happened to me a lot, especially going on to the pro circuit,” Whitney said. “Everyone is basically the same physically so it’s mental. That's been real big for me this year, staying relaxed and focused and not panicking.”
Whitney is among a number of young American athletes getting a taste of a continental championship at the Pan Am Games, giving them a sample of what could await at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next summer. Kyra Jefferson also advanced to Friday's 200 final.
“If I take it day-by-day and stick to the plan hopefully I’ll make it there," Whitney said.