Dacres maintains form, Wright seeks World Champs mark

Fedrick Dacres continued his fine form at last Saturday's Last Chance Throws meet inside the National Stadium. With only throwers in the audience, Dacres launched his discus 66.90m. He was one of four men to pass the 60m mark.

Chad Wright, who is chasing the World Championship qualifying mark of 65m, took the lead with a first round effort of 60.04m. Dacres got going in round two, with 62.39, and did his best in the next round. For good measure, he got a 65.52m throw on the fourth round.

Noting afterwards that his throws have come in open fields, Dacres said: "It shows I'm in good shape because I'm not really a stadium person, not this Stadium, but I can give you constant 65s - over 65 - now so it shows I'm in good shape and I guess I'm strong."

Traves Smikle moved past Wright into second place with a fourth-round toss of 63.27m. Wright's best was 60.68m.

Basil Bingham was fourth at 60.01m.

HUNT THE MARK

Wright said he is heading to Europe. Though he was third at the JAAA National Senior Athletics Championships, he needs to match or surpass 65m before July 23 to join Dacres and Smikle on the Jamaican team to the upcoming World Championships. "I got into a couple meets there, so I'm going to hunt the mark," he resolved.

The determined Wright promised: "I have to find it, wherever it might be, I have to find it."

Meet director Michael Vassell explains what the new meet was staged to give athletes a chance to attain the World qualifying standard. "It's really the fact that there are so many people who are close", he explained, "and we need to provide as many opportunities as possible and, I mean, it's really a sign that throwing itself is growing."

He had high praise for Dacres, who was in the 2015 World Championship final. "Dacres never had to throw this evening, but he came to support," he continued, "and that is what I think is going to drive throws, that our local heroes will always be here."

- HL