Three Jamaicans in Budapest discus final, says Chang

There is a chance that three Jamaicans – Traves Smikle, Roje Stona and Fedrick Dacres – could be throwing in the World Championship discus final in Budapest, Hungary, next month. That’s the expectation from Kai Chang, who finished fourth behind that trio at the recent National Championships.

“Honestly, I feel like all three can make the finals. All three have been very consistent in throwing over 65 metres in the Stadium and I feel like that is just good base or good foundational strength to be able to compete at any World Championships or Olympic Games,” Chang said.

If 2019 runner-up Dacres, Smikle and Stona all reach the final 12 in Budapest, their presence would establish a new benchmark. So far, in World Championships and Olympic history, the highest number of Jamaicans in throwing finalists is two, thanks to Dacres and Smikle in 2017.

The University of the West Indies star thrower was in the Nationals final where Smikle threw 66.12m to win inside the National Stadium in Kingston, ahead of Stona, 65.97m, and Dacres 65.79m. In a reference to the Stadium circle being reputed to be slightly ‘slow’, Chang elucidated: “Once you are able to throw over 65m in the Stadium, you have the necessary capabilities to be able to make the finals going into a World final.”

As of July 20, Stona, Dacres and Smikle appear at numbers 6, 7 and 9 in the 2023 world performance list with season best throws of 68.64m, 68.57m and 68.14m, respectively.

Chang is delighted that his old high school rival will be in Budapest.

“I’m really happy for Stona. I am really happy that my rival from high school is doing it,” he said with genuine admiration, “and I definitely want to be up there with him. So it’s nothing more than motivation.”

For Chang, it’s exciting to see young throwers getting ready to follow the footsteps of Dacres, Smikle, 2021 Olympic finalist Chad Wright and 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner Jason ‘Dadz’ Morgan. He agrees that with youngsters like himself and Stona, 2021 World Under-20 runner-up Ralford Mullings, United States Junior college winner Brandon Lloyd and the former Edwin Allen pair Christopher Young and Trevor Gunzell, Jamaica could still be a discus world power in 2032.

“Definitely, definitely,” he underscored. “And definitely through 2032, I should be well seasoned in the event and trying to make another Olympic team, God’s willing, if I make this one coming up, but the future for Jamaica’s discus throwing is bright and it’s very enlightening and very motivating, especially as a discus thrower, who is among the other throwers in that circle. Just seeing the young talents rising and being able to compete with us and seeing us as other rivals and other competitors, it’s even more inspiring,” he reasoned.