Throw down

Fedrick Dacres became the first Jamaican to win a throwing medal at a global athletics event when he claimed silver in the men’s discus throw at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, last year.

But the feat seems to have done very little to quench the former Calabar High School standout’s thirst as he says he is hungrier than ever to become the best in the world.

“I think last year definitely motivates me,” Dacres told The Gleaner. “Second place means that I didn’t do enough, so now I am pushing for first. So I am just trying to be healthy and throw as far as I can.”

He could be well on his way to achieving that goal of becoming the best in the world, as the former world under-20 champion launched his disc to 69.67m already this season, the farthest he has thrown before the official start to the outdoor season in March.

Injury-free off season

Dacres attributes his immaculate start to having an injury-free off season.

“I think the thing for me this year is that I have been healthy,” he said. “Last year, I did surgery, which was a major setback. But this off season, I didn’t have anything like that, so I have got the opportunity to get stronger and my technique is getting better. It’s more like steady progression from where I left off last year.”

Dacres registered the mark, which is a world-leading throw, at the King of the Ring field events meet at Excelsior High School, last Saturday.

“I am not sure when I will compete again, but I think I will compete again before the outdoor season really starts,” he said.

Dacres threw over 70m for the first time in his career last year, putting down a mark of 70.78m at the Rabat Diamond League meet.

But he was still left in the shadows of the Swedish giant Daniel Stahl, who hit the 70m more consistently and won the world title.

akino.ming@gleanerjm.com