New girl Levy gets historic silver in hammer

MIRAMAR, Florida: Hammer thrower Daina Levy was the toast of the Jamaican team on the opening day of the Junior Pan American Championships.

Competing in Jamaica's colours for the first time, the Canada-born Levy won the country's first-ever medal in the hammer at the championships.

Levy threw the hammer 55.79m, with American Ashe Shelby winning gold with a best of 59.25. Anther American, Karen Henning (54.18m), took bronze.

She did not compete at the Junior trials but she participated at the Senior Championships several weeks later.

"The event was not held at the junior trials but I did so at the Senior Championships where I was fifth, but I am happy to know that I was able to get a chance to compete for Jamaica, because although I was born in Canada my heart is in Jamaica because my parents, and my entire family are from Jamaica, as my mother is from Kingston and my father is from St Thomas, and I consider myself to be Jamaican and not Canadian," said Levy. Her mother, Carol Levy, was also on hand to see her daughter create history.

looking forward to great future

Levy, who now lives in the United States, will be attending Auburn University in September and she is looking forward to a good future in the event.

"I am looking forward to Auburn and I definitely will be aiming to improve in the event so that I can compete in international meets for Jamaica, and I have the Olympics on my radar," she said.

Head coach Michael Carr was full of praise for Levy.

"It is always good to get your first medal at an event, but when you get it in a non-traditional event the feeling is much greater. I am happy for her as she really wanted to represent Jamaica," Carr said.

- R.G.