Bittersweet discusgold for Jamaica's Smikle

Traves Smikle started Jamaica's bid to bag a rich haul of medals at the 2011 LIME Carifta Games when he won the boys' Under-20 discus, the nation's first gold medal, on yesterday's opening day of the 40th Carifta Games in Montego Bay, St James.

"I am extremely happy that I won the first medal for Jamaica because we intend to very well at these championship," said Smikle.

"On a personal level, I am a little bit disappointed that I did not get the record, because that was my aim."

The solidly build left-handed Smikle, the only left-handed thrower in the line-up, justified his tag as pre-Games favourite with his winning throw of 62.84 metres, which gave him a comfortable win over second-placed Akeem Stewart, of Trinidad and Tobago, with 51.50 metres.

Disappointing

Jamaica's second entrant in the event, the burly Ashinia Miller, Smikle's Calabar High teammate was somewhat disappointing as he found it difficult to throw in the strong crosswind, he could only manage fourth.

Smikle, who is now at the end of his Carifta Games career, goes out with a fairly distinguished record as yesterday's gold medal means he has won a medal in each of his three Carifta Games. Last year, he won a bronze in the Cayman Islands and the previous year he mined silver.

"I really had my eyes on the record today, especially after my 66.88 metres at champs (Boys and Girls' Championships) a few weeks ago," said Smikle. "This is my final year of Carifta, so I won't have another chance."

Interestingly, the Under-20 discus record belongs to Smikle's former Calabar schoolmate Chad Wright, whose record of 63.11 metres, was established last year. In looking at possible reasons why he failed to get the record yesterday, Smikle felt that while the conditions suited his 'south paw' style, his technique was just not as good as he had hoped.

"The wind should have worked in my favour but because my technique was off, I did not do as well as I had hoped," noted Smikle. "I will just have to keep on working on my technique because I am expecting to have a good career in the sport."