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New throwing ring coming for Stadium

Published:Wednesday | February 26, 2020 | 12:19 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
Brown
Brown

THE next time the country’s top discus thrower, Fedrick Dacres, competes in his pet event at the National Stadium, he will do so inside a new throwing ring.

Dacres, the Doha World Athletics Championships silver medallist, pulled out of the event at last Saturday’s S.W. Isaac-Henry Invitational meet, citing a poor surface to the ring.

“As throwers, we cannot glide inside the circle as there is no friction there, and I can’t believe this is how they are treating us as throwers,” the 25-year-old Dacres said last Saturday.

SOON TO COME

Yesterday, Major Desmon Brown, general manager of Independence Park Limited (IPL) and first vice president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Ian Forbes, both said a new ring could be in place soon.

“We have known about this problem for some time ago and we contacted Mr Forbes from the JAAA. When we have any issue with sports, we speak with senior members from the respective sporting bodies so they can coordinate with coaches who have the technical knowledge in the respective areas,” Major Brown said. He then confirmed that work on the new ring is set to begin tomorrow.

According to Forbes they knew about the problem (with the throwing ring) and it was a work in progress.

“The issue came up at our last JAAA executive meeting and contact was made with IPL for the adjustment to be made,” Forbes said. He added that they had contacted three top local throwing coaches for their recommendations but they were unable to get a meeting involving all three.

Forbes stated that some throwers had no problem with the ring but they had to listen to the concerns of the World Championships silver medallist.

“Some athletes felt nothing was wrong with the surface but we really had to listen to Fedrick (Dacres) as he is the country’s premier thrower … he had a serious and genuine concern. We are about to meet with IPL and the technical team and once we get the recommendation, IPL is ready to execute their plans,” Forbes said.