Dacres looks to build on CWG gold
Commonwealth Games discus champion Fedrick Dacres says winning gold at the recently concluded championships on Australia’s Gold Coast is the realisation of a long-time ambition of his, after his early international success.
Dacres won gold medals at the World Junior Championships and World Youth Championships, but had found a senior international medal elusive, before his Commonwealth Games record 68.20m effort at the Carrara Stadium on April 13.
The silver medal went to his training partner Traves Smikle, who registered a 63.98m mark, with Cyprus’ Apostolos Parellis taking the bronze medal.
LONG TIME COMING
Dacres’ performance was so dominant, that all six of his throws were good enough for the gold medal.
For him, it was a long time coming, but he is already looking to build on his achievement.
“It’s a great feeling to win the gold medal,” Dacres said on his return to the island yesterday.
“It shows that I am really a senior athlete now, this is something that I have ticked off and it’s time to build on what I have and do more,” he said, before going through his series.
“My plan was to throw well, the record came and I am thankful for that,” added Dacres.
“Things went off for the first one and I just wanted to just get this one over with, catch my rhythm, speed it up and then build on that and I got the 68m. It shows that sometimes when your mind is not there, good things can happen,” he continued.
Dacres, who is studying at the University of West Indies, Mona, says he will now focus on his exams and the Diamond League campaign later this season.