Historic throws
For first time, Ja’s discus trio make final
Published:Tuesday | August 6, 2024 | 12:12 AMDaniel Wheeler/Gleaner Writer
Paris, France:
In a landmark moment for Jamaican field events, three men will vie for the Olympic discus title as national champion Traves Smikle, Ralford Mullings and Roje Stona advanced to tomorrow’s final after strong qualifying performances as day five of athletics closed inside the Stade de France.
Smikle and Mullings registered throws of 65.91m and 65.18m, respectively, while Stona’s second throw of 65.32m meant the trio finished in the top 12 with only four persons meeting the automatic qualifying mark of 66m.
It is the first time that three Jamaicans will contend for an Olympic discus title and they will have the distinction of being the only country in the field with three participants.
For Stona, a first-time Olympian, the moment is significant, knowing how fierce the event has become locally.
“It’s great for the country itself. We already saw that with the trials that we were in good shape and Jamaica in the discus has been doing well over the years. For us to make the final, I know that is a good look,” Stona said. “Discus is looking good this year and it is going to be a great final.”
The moment is also surreal for débutant Mullings, who, in his major senior championship début, makes his first Olympic final, amazed by how quickly Jamaica has evolved in the event.
“It is definitely saying that Jamaica is becoming one of the most competitive discus throwing countries in the world. We had to throw 64 high to make the team. I mean we are all here, we are all 65-metre guys. It is just ridiculous how competitive the country is becoming,” said Mullings.
For the first time since 1976, Jamaica will not have a finalist in the women’s 200m, after débutantes Niesha Burgher and Lanae Tava Thomas did not progress from their semifinals. Burgher was fifth in 22.64 seconds but was flagged for a lane violation. Thomas, who was battling an infection, was fifth in 22.77 seconds. While it ends an impressive streak of consistent final appearances and podium places, Thomas said she has absorbed much from her first professional season, proud to be a part of the new emerging talent that will be part of future championships.
“It is a very young team. Look at everyone that is doing what they are doing. We have time to develop and it is going to be a very strong team when we do develop,” Thomas said.
For the men, Andrew Hudson and Byran Levell will have to run again today in the repechage round after not qualifying automatically from their first round heats yesterday. Hudson finished fifth in 20.53 seconds and Levell, who was in a heat with reigning 200m world champion Noah Lyles, was fourth in 20.47 seconds.
National champion Malik James King, national record holder Roshawn Clarke and Jaheel Hyde all secured safe passage to the semifinals of the men’s 400m hurdles after strong performances in their first round heats. King, in his Olympic début, won his heat in 48.21 seconds while Clarke won his heat in 48.17 seconds. Hyde was second in his first round heat, clocking 49.08 seconds.
National champion, national record holder and world leader Nickisha Pryce began her quest for the Olympic crown in the women’s 400m with a comfortable 50.02 win in her first-round heat. Her national teammates Stacy Ann Williams and Junelle Bromfield got automatic qualifications to the semifinals with second and third-place finishes in their first-round heats.
Jevaughn Powell will be the lone hope for Jamaican in the men’s 400m when he competes in the semifinal today at 12:35 p.m. Jamaica time. Powell was the only competitor to secure an automatic qualifier from the first-round heat. National champion DeAndre Watkin finished outside of the automatic qualifying places and did not face the starter in yesterday’s repêchage round. Sean Bailey pulled up during his repêchage heat and could not finish the race.
World championship silver medallist Wayne Pinnock and World indoor champion bronze medallist Carey McLeod will hope to capture Jamaica’s first Olympic medal in the men’s long jump since 1996. Pinnock qualified for the final, seventh overall, with a leap of 7.96m while McLeod qualified 10th overall with a leap of 7.90m.
Earlier, Adelle Tracey got her campaign underway in the women’s 1500m. Tracey is the national record holder, having clocked 3:58.77 minutes at the World Championships in Budapest last year.