‘I’m doing something right’.
SMIKLE PLEASED WITH RECENT RESULTS BUT WANTS MORE CONSISTENCY
WITH A Commonwealth Games silver medal and a big win over a great field in Germany last week, discus thrower Traves Smikle is a man on the move. While he is pleased with himself, he is searching for the consistency that will confirm him as one of the world’s best.
On his first European tour, the left-handed University of the West Indies graduate released a 67.14m zoomer to win in Halle, Germany, at an event on May 26 for throwers only. The first-round effort defeated Daniel Stahl, the 2017 World Championships runner-up from Sweden, Olympic champion Christoph Harting of Germany, and 2015 World champion Piotr Malachowski of Poland.
‘VERY GOOD THING’
Speaking just after the JAAA AllComers meet at the National Stadium last Saturday, Smikle said: “I’m not as consistent as I’d like, but to go to Europe and go against the big boys, to throw 67 and to win the meet is a very good thing.”
The Halle winner was the secondbest throw of Smikle’s life and compares well to the benchmark he established at Excelsior High School on January 20, with a measurement of 67.72m.
His coach, Julian Robinson, was not in Halle, but was thrilled to hear the result. “Finally, on a big stage, he’s showing what I know he has,” Robinson said. “He’s world class”, said the Calabar High and University of West Indies throwing adviser.
“The series wasn’t pretty, but I give God thanks for that one throw,” assessed Robinson. Smikle followed his winning throw with a foul and distances of 60.29, 61.54, 63.31 and 64.27m.
BIG START
According to the 2017 World Championships eighth-place finisher, there is an emphasis on big opening throws in Europe.
“You have to be reckless from the start and push,” he said of advice he received from fellow discus men in Halle.
“It means to me that I’m doing something right,” Smikle said about the end result.
“It’s just a process until the consistency is reached,” he explained, “and overall, I’m happy to be where I’m at right now and I’m just hoping for better.”
Smikle will be in action this Saturday at the JN Racers Grand Prix at the National Stadium.