Phylicia George: 100m hurdles

Name: Phylicia George
Hometown: Markham, Ontario
Club: Project Athletics Track & Field Club
Coach: Anthony McCleary
Age: 24
Personal Best: 12.72 (100m hurdles); 11.25 (100m)

Phylicia George from Markham, Ont., qualified for the Olympics in the 100m hurdles by finishing second at the Canadian Trials in Calgary. Unlike other women in her heat, George had already secured a spot on the team after winning the 100m final two days earlier in a blistering 11.30. The drama filled hurdles final included six women with the Olympic “A” standard. Three were former Olympians, including former medallist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep and former world champion Perdita Felicien.

Perhaps knowing she had already secured an Olympic spot in the 100m allowed George to relax and finish in a strong second place in a personal best time of 12.72. George has opted not to run the 100m in London to focus on the hurdles, where she, along with teammates Nikkita Holder and Jessica Zelinka could be medal threats.

George was a strong hurdler from the very beginning. In 2006 at the age of 18, George took home the OFSAA championship in 14.29 raising eyebrows south of the border. At junior nationals that same year, George finished fourth in the 100m hurdles and the 200m. George was recruited to the University of Connecticut for hurdles and sprints. A gifted academic, George studied physiology and neurobiology and achieved a 3.9 grade point average during her four years as a student.

In 2007, George was a member for the 4x100m relay team for all four years and helped the team take a championship title at the Penn Relays.  The University of Connecticut has only sent three athletes to the Olympics from the track program after 30 years and George is one of them.

Despite her successes in college, George nearly quit in 2010 after tying for last at the Canadian championships in the 100m hurdles. George was convinced by her coaches to try for another year and in 2011, she went on to finish 2nd in the same event and qualified for the world championships, finishing seventh, just behind Holder. George has aspirations of being a doctor, however, she put her career goals on hold to pursue athletics.

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