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Smikle lands historic discus bronze
Smikle lands historic discus bronze
BY PAUL A REID, Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, July 09, 2009
BRIXEN/BRESSANONE, Italy - An historic bronze medal in the discus event from Traves Smikle highlighted Jamaica's first day at the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships at the Sports Arena here yesterday.
BRIXEN/BRESSANONE, Italy - Jamaican Traves Smikle competes in the boys discus event on the opening day of the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships at the Sports Arena yesterday. (Photo: Paul Reid)
The 17-year-old six footer set a new National Youth Record of 61.22m with the 1.50k implement to add to his National Junior Record (1.75k), improving his personal best by over five metres after coming into the competition with 56.09m.
The soft-spoken Smikle, who invokes God and prayer in almost every sentence, was cheered on by a number of Jamaica team members, including official and coaches who stayed on long after the track events were over.
Smikle rescued Jamaica from what would have been a sub-par performance as only eight other of the 17 athletes who took part advanced past the opening day.
Deandre Whitehorne is through to today's semi-finals of the girls' 100m; Sandrae Farquharson and Chantal Duncan are through to the next round of the 400m; sprint hurdlers Keenan Davis and Samantha Elliot advanced, while medal contenders Ristananna Tracey and Danielle Dowie both easily won their first-round heats of the 400m hurdles.
Only two boys advanced - National Junior 100m champion Kemar Bailey Cole in the 100m who is through to the semi-final and Javere Bell in the 400m.
There were disappointment for Sherika Moulton and Adam Cummings who both failed to get past the second round of the 100m. Peter-gay Reid and Kimberly Williamson crashed out of the high jump, both at 1.77m, while Rochelle Farquharson did not advance in the triple jump.
Waquar daCosta also failed to get by the first round of the 800m and was briefly taken to the hospital while A-Shawni Mitchell just missed the second round of the 400m.
It was Smikle's day, however, as he broke his own personal record on three occasions, the first coming on his only throw of qualifying when he threw 57.28m.
He improved again on his first thrown in the final when he threw 60.28m before improving yet again to 61.22m on his third throw.
Syria's Hamid Manssour won the gold with 64.20m, passing long-time leader, American Ryan Crouser (61.64m) in his penultimate effort.
Smikle, who is in fifth form at Calabar High, was at a loss for words in interviews after the event.
"I can't even explain (my results) because coming into a world level competition like this it takes a lot of technique, strength level to go up against the best youths in the world and it means a lot to me," he said.
He was full of praise for his fellow competitors, most of whom he said were surprised by his abilities.
"The two US guys were great contenders for medals; the winner, the Indian guy (Prabhjot Singh-fifth) brought a serious challenge."
He said the biggest lesson he learned form the competition was, "don't limit yourself to anything, train hard and you will benefit."
While looking forward to the future and to next year's World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, Smikle acknowledged he still had a lot of work to do: "Without more training and hard work, I can't compete at that level. I have to go back to training and start all over again."
One of the difference yesterday, he said, was a tip he got from one of the assistant coaches, Hamlin Pagan, who helped him to keep his left (throwing) hand up through the motion.
Meanwhile, both Tracey and Dowie looked dominant in the 400m hurdles and despite hitting the ninth barrier, Tracey won easily in 1:01.24, while Dowie ran the second fastest qualifying time of 1:00.45, second only to the new World Youth leading 57.83secs run by Russia's Vera Rudakova, who won the second heat.
Whitehorne, the CARIFTA U-17 winner, will line up in today's semi-final of the 100m after placing second in her second round heat in 11.92.
She was taken off the track in a wheelchair, however, after twisting her ankle.
Despite running with a big bandage on her left thigh, Farquharson is through to the next round of the 400m after placing third in her heat in a season best 56.28 seconds, while Chantal Duncan's 56.93 seconds saw her advancing as one of the fastest losers.
Bailey-Cole won his first round heat in 10.74 seconds then placed third in the second round in 10.77 seconds to book his place in the semi-final of the 100m.
BY PAUL A REID, Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, July 09, 2009
BRIXEN/BRESSANONE, Italy - An historic bronze medal in the discus event from Traves Smikle highlighted Jamaica's first day at the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships at the Sports Arena here yesterday.
BRIXEN/BRESSANONE, Italy - Jamaican Traves Smikle competes in the boys discus event on the opening day of the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships at the Sports Arena yesterday. (Photo: Paul Reid)The 17-year-old six footer set a new National Youth Record of 61.22m with the 1.50k implement to add to his National Junior Record (1.75k), improving his personal best by over five metres after coming into the competition with 56.09m.
The soft-spoken Smikle, who invokes God and prayer in almost every sentence, was cheered on by a number of Jamaica team members, including official and coaches who stayed on long after the track events were over.
Smikle rescued Jamaica from what would have been a sub-par performance as only eight other of the 17 athletes who took part advanced past the opening day.
Deandre Whitehorne is through to today's semi-finals of the girls' 100m; Sandrae Farquharson and Chantal Duncan are through to the next round of the 400m; sprint hurdlers Keenan Davis and Samantha Elliot advanced, while medal contenders Ristananna Tracey and Danielle Dowie both easily won their first-round heats of the 400m hurdles.
Only two boys advanced - National Junior 100m champion Kemar Bailey Cole in the 100m who is through to the semi-final and Javere Bell in the 400m.
There were disappointment for Sherika Moulton and Adam Cummings who both failed to get past the second round of the 100m. Peter-gay Reid and Kimberly Williamson crashed out of the high jump, both at 1.77m, while Rochelle Farquharson did not advance in the triple jump.
Waquar daCosta also failed to get by the first round of the 800m and was briefly taken to the hospital while A-Shawni Mitchell just missed the second round of the 400m.
It was Smikle's day, however, as he broke his own personal record on three occasions, the first coming on his only throw of qualifying when he threw 57.28m.
He improved again on his first thrown in the final when he threw 60.28m before improving yet again to 61.22m on his third throw.
Syria's Hamid Manssour won the gold with 64.20m, passing long-time leader, American Ryan Crouser (61.64m) in his penultimate effort.
Smikle, who is in fifth form at Calabar High, was at a loss for words in interviews after the event.
"I can't even explain (my results) because coming into a world level competition like this it takes a lot of technique, strength level to go up against the best youths in the world and it means a lot to me," he said.
He was full of praise for his fellow competitors, most of whom he said were surprised by his abilities.
"The two US guys were great contenders for medals; the winner, the Indian guy (Prabhjot Singh-fifth) brought a serious challenge."
He said the biggest lesson he learned form the competition was, "don't limit yourself to anything, train hard and you will benefit."
While looking forward to the future and to next year's World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, Smikle acknowledged he still had a lot of work to do: "Without more training and hard work, I can't compete at that level. I have to go back to training and start all over again."
One of the difference yesterday, he said, was a tip he got from one of the assistant coaches, Hamlin Pagan, who helped him to keep his left (throwing) hand up through the motion.
Meanwhile, both Tracey and Dowie looked dominant in the 400m hurdles and despite hitting the ninth barrier, Tracey won easily in 1:01.24, while Dowie ran the second fastest qualifying time of 1:00.45, second only to the new World Youth leading 57.83secs run by Russia's Vera Rudakova, who won the second heat.
Whitehorne, the CARIFTA U-17 winner, will line up in today's semi-final of the 100m after placing second in her second round heat in 11.92.
She was taken off the track in a wheelchair, however, after twisting her ankle.
Despite running with a big bandage on her left thigh, Farquharson is through to the next round of the 400m after placing third in her heat in a season best 56.28 seconds, while Chantal Duncan's 56.93 seconds saw her advancing as one of the fastest losers.
Bailey-Cole won his first round heat in 10.74 seconds then placed third in the second round in 10.77 seconds to book his place in the semi-final of the 100m.
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