Jiggling Jenneke ditches iconic dance for yawn ahead of Commonwealth Games preparation race

AUSSIE hurdler Michelle ‘Jiggling’ Jenneke was in no mood for dancing before her Commonwealth Games preparation race on Thursday.

AUSTRALIAN hurdler Michelle Jenneke is well known for her iconic pre-race dance routine, earning her the nickname Jiggling Jenneke, but it seems she wasn’t in the mood for dancing on Thursday night.

There was no jiggling in sight as the 24-year-old took to the track for the Summer of Athletics Grand Prix in Queensland yesterday.

Instead, the rather solemn looking Jenneke, swapped out her usual cheerful warm-up routine for a tired yawn.

This subdued appearance from Jenneke comes after she was lashed with widespread criticism for her performance in the opening heat for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Michelle Jenneke looks tired as she prepares to run in the Womens 100m Hurdles at the Summer of Athletics Grand Prix. Picture: Dave Hunt/AAP

In a recent interview with news.com.au the Aussie athlete revealed the circumstances that led up to what she called “one of the worst races I’ve ever run”.

“A lot of it (criticism) was misplaced. I know that I came into Rio as well prepared as I could have been and there were some unfortunate circumstances that didn’t go my way,” Jenneke said.

“I was definitely not as disappointed with my Rio performance as everyone else seemed to be so that hasn’t really affected me at all.

Jenneke doing her iconic routine. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“I knew what had gone on in my situation better than the rest of the world did and everyone who knew me quite well understood what actually happened.”

Her appearance on Thursday, in which she placed second in the women’s 100 metre hurdles open event, served as preparation for her Commonwealth Games Campaign.

She ran a time of 13.70 seconds, just slower than her Rio Olympics time of 13.26 seconds.

Heading into the Commonwealth Games, Jenneke told news.com.au that she just wants “to go out there and do the best I can — try and give the home crowd something to cheer for”.