Smikle, Wright back Dacres for gold
Traves Smikle is still disappointed that both he and Chad Wright were unable to join Fedrick Dacres in the men’s discus throw final as, according to him, such an historic qualification would mean a lot for the growth of Jamaica’s track and field.
“It would have been the first time Jamaica would have three men in the final of a non-traditional event,” Smikle said.
A last-minute injury and poor execution now means the Calabar High old boys’ hopes of inspiring young Jamaicans to want to do the event, rests on Dacres delivering the country’s first medal at a global championships in the discus throw today.
“Fedrick can win. I told him not to watch the competition, just focus on himself. He has been throwing far in training so he just needs to come in the final and deliver it,” Smikle said. “He has a tendency to stay in his own zone but from time to time I would talk to him to boost him up and I will do that.”
Wright said: “He is going to win. I believe he is going to win. The man is in good shape.”
SECOND BEST
Dacres, who has the second best throw coming into the meet with his 70.78m effort, only produced 65.44 m in Group A on Saturday.
“It (first round) was more of a test than anything else.The first throw I was really relaxed to see how my power felt and I got a good throw but the second one I was relaxed too much so the consistency is not there as yet. I feel good going into the final,” Dacres said.
Smikle, who threw over the automatic qualifying mark (65.55m) four times this season, could only manage 62.93m on Saturday, while Wright struggled throughout the competition with a right hamstring injury he picked up last Thursday and only threw 60.60m.
“My technique broke down completely but it happens and we just have to move forward,” Smikle said. “Out of the all the places, to come and throw horribly is the World Champs, and I feel very sad about that because I have performed better than this throughout the season.”
Wright said: “I have been nursing an injury for the past three days now and it got worse as the competition went on. I really feel like I have a lot more to give and I think I will throw farther going into Olympics next year. Some times the plans don’t go as you want them to so you have to just reset and come back for next year.”