Discus duo should medal at worlds, says coach
CALABAR High School’s throwing coach Julian Robinson is confident newly-crowned Carifta Games Under-20 discus champion Chad Wright and bronze medallist Travis Smikle are on target to win medals at this summer’s IAAF World Junior champions in Moncton, Canada, from July 20-25.
Wright, yesterday’s produced a massive throw of 63.11 metres (1.75kg) to win the Under-20 discus title in a new championship and National Junior record at the 39th Carifta Games in the Cayman Islands.
His compatriot and schoolmate Smikle, the World Youth bronze medallist, heaved the implement 58.24 for the bronze.
“Fifty-eight metres in Travis’ case and 63 metres in Chad’s case are good indicators that they can go past 65 metres,” Robinson told the Sunday Observer.
“We have about three to four months before World Junior trials, so I think in that period, with weights training and technique work, we can get past 65 and when we get past 65, we’ll see where that puts us in terms of medals,” the confident coach added.
Both Wright and Smikle have consistently surpassed the IAAF World Junior automatic qualifying standard of 54.00m since January.
A delighted Robinson told the Sunday Observer he was not expecting stellar performances from his charges at the Caribbean’s premier junior championships.
“I’m not surprised… I’m happy that Travis and Chad are in the 60-metres region,” he said, reacting to their effort to capture gold and bronze.
“Every thrower or every jumper has a big throw or big jump in them, so I know the 63m was possible. I’m happy for what it says about the programme because as I’ve said in many forums we are trying to medal at World Juniors and to medal, you have to get in the region of 65m,” Robinson reasoned.