Field events trio doing well in US

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica has for many years been extremely successful on the track in various avenues of competition but the island's accomplishments in the field events have not been of the same magnitude.

The country, however, seems poised for a bright future where the latter is concerned as a number of young athletes are showing an interest in competing in the various field events.

One of the brightest prospects is double national junior record holder, Chad Wright. The former Calabar High School student who is currently enrolled at the University of Nebraska where he is pursuing a degree in general studies holds the junior shot put record (18.87 metres) as well as the discus record, which stands at 63.11 metres.

The 19-year-old Wright, now in the island on holidays along with discus thrower Noel Facey and triple/long jumper Nicholas Gordon, has settled well in his new environment after overcoming initial challenges.

"I had a couple subjects that were challenging but it has been okay," Wright shared. "It has been rough but after a while you get used to it plus my mother calls me just about every week," he added.

He has been impressed with the coaching at the university.

"They have individual coaches for just about everything; strength coach, nutritionist but out here I had one coach for all of that," Wright disclosed.

Just five months into his university life and Wright is already experiencing success as he tossed a personal best mark of 16.34 metres in the shot put with a 16-pound ball to place fourth at an indoor meet.

Wright said: "For the indoor season I am looking towards at least 18 metres or 19 metres in the shot put and for the outdoors I am looking to qualify for World Championships.

Facey, the 2008 CARIFTA discus silver medallist, is into his third year at South Carolina State University, where he is doing both Economics and Accounts.

"I do the discus and the shot pot and I am trying to break the conference record in both," Facey stated. "I also have a new technique working on in the rotation for the shot put," he added.

In his freshman year he won the conference championships in the discus. In his second year he finished second in the shot put indoor and third outdoor, while placing second in the discus.

He suffered a setback last year as he sustained an injury but is now fully recovered.

Sidelined for three months

Facey said: "I was doing power cleaning (lifting of weights from the ground up to your chest) as an exercise but did not get my body under the weight, so the weight (275 pounds) fell on my left knee and I was sidelined for three months."

Gordon, who is into his fourth year at the University of Nebraska where he is a political science student, competes in the long jump and the triple jump. The former Calabar Boys' Championships standout, and national representative, has been doing extremely well, both in his academics and in the jumps.

"It has been going very good, my GPA is currently 3.6," Gordon informed. "I am two times conference champion in the long jump both indoor and outdoor and NCAA champion in the long jump (8.03 meters)," he added. .

The 22-year-old also has his sights set on qualifying for World Championships later this year.

"I just want to get better, that is my immediate goal," Gordon disclosed. "In the near future, I would like to come to the national trials and do well and hopefully make it to the World Championships," he added.