Pettigrew's confession doesn't shake New Ro star
By Christopher Hunt
New Rochelle star Elizabeth Mott never doubted her decision to commit to the University of North Carolina. Even after news broke that her future coach, former Olympic sprinter Antonio Pettigrew, admitted in a federal courtroom that he used performance-enhancing drugs for a span of four years.
In fact, she received an email letter nearly a month ago from North Carolina head coach Dennis Craddock alerting Mott, and other recruits, that Pettigrew would be testifying in federal court against his former coach Trevor Graham, who is on trial for allegedly lying to federal investigators about his relationship with a known steroids dealer, Angel Heredia.
“I wasn’t’ alarmed because people make mistakes,” Mott said. “I still have a lot of respect for (Pettigrew). He’s a good man. It definitely doesn’t change the way I think of him or the school.”
Mott accepted an athletic scholarship with the Tar Heels in March. On Friday, she won the 400 hurdles (61.1), 200 (24.1) and set the Section 1 record in the 400 meters (54.0) while leading New Rochelle to the Class A championship. As a 400-runner and 400-meter hurdler, Mott will work most closely with Pettigrew, the sprints/hurdles coach, who has not been fired. Mott said the email she received demonstrated the University and coaching staff’s support for Pettigrew, a five-time U.S. 400-meter champ.
On Thursday, Pettigrew admitted to using human growth hormone and the oxygen-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO) between 1997 and 2001. He won a gold medal as a member of the 4x400 relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games, a medal that Olympic authorities must now decide whether to strip the relay of. It is still unclear whether Pettigrew will face sanctions for his admission. Pettigrew never failed a drug test.
Mott, for one, isn’t passing judgment.
“I still take it as an example of what not to do,” Mott said. “No matter who you are or who your coach is you can’t rely on other things outside of what God gave you. “Whatever happens in the dark will come to light, even if it’s 13 years later.”
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.