Dacres mines historic gold

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

LILLE, France:

Despite chilling winds and rain, yesterday belonged to Jamaica; yesterday belonged to Fedrick Dacres.

The Calabar High School athlete threw his way into the record books with a monstrous 67.05 metres personal-best hurl in his last attempt, during the finals of the boys' discus at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France, to become Jamaica's first-ever discus world champion.

With his mark, Dacres etched his way into the record books, as only five other youth throwers have posted better distances in history. He also ensured that Jamaica got their medal rush off to the best possible start on the championship's opening day of competition.

"It feels great to be world champion, it feels really great!" Dacres exclaimed after his impressive win.

Dacres, who entered the event as the world leader with 66.42m, made his intentions clear from his very first throw, where he posted 63.67m, which stood as the lead until he first bettered that with 64.52m on his fourth attempt, before digging deep to find the gold medal-winning throw to close off his set.

"I knew I had it in me. I knew I could do it," Dacres said with a smile.

Productive day

The gold medal rounded off a productive day for the Jamaicans, which also saw girls 100-metre favourite, Christania Williams, putting her foot down in the first round with an 11.66 seconds clocking - the second-fastest of the round, winning her heat and booking her spot in today's semi-finals where she will meet compatriot Dianna Johnson, who finished second in her heat in 11.99 seconds.

In the boys' equivalent, Odail Todd recovered from a so-so start to win his heat quite comfortably, with a time of 10.70 seconds.

"I'm not too happy with the run, but I did what I wanted to do, which was to qualify, and that's the important thing," said Todd. "I found myself behind so I had to run hard for the first 60m or so and then shut it down close to the end. My start needs work and I'll be working on it, and in the next rounds everything will be ok."

World leader Chris-ann Gordon looked in good shape in the girls 400m qualifying, winning her heat in 53.52 seconds, while Olivia James also booked her passage to the next round, also winning her heat in 54.78 seconds.

Hurdlers Megan Simmonds and Chrisdale McCarthy both qualified comfortably for the semi-finals of the girls 100 metres obstacle event in chilly conditions; both finishing second and showing good form and composure in their respective heats.

Simmonds' 13.90 seconds saw her finish behind German Alexandra Burghardt, who won with a time of 13.82 seconds, while McCarthy ran 13.85 seconds to finish behind American Kendell Williams, 13.60 seconds.

Clive Pullen is through to the boys' long jump final after winning his group with a personal best 7.29m, posted on his opening jump.

Omar McLeod also made progress in the boys' 400m hurdles, finishing second in his heat in a personal best 41.74 seconds.

In the girls' high jump, Chanice Porter made light work in moving on to the next round, after clearing 1.75m.

However, there was disappointment for Krista-Gay Taylor, who failed to clear 1.72m and missed out on a spot after the countback.

Lennox Williams also suffered a disappointment, when he failed to move on in the boys' 400m, struggling to sixth place in 50.01 seconds.

Today, Tyler Mason will bow into action in the 110m hurdles at 11:40 a.m. (4:40 a.m. Jamaica time), while there will be semi-final action for Simmonds, McCarthy (9 a.m. Ja time), Williams, Johnson (9:50 a.m.), Todd (10:40 a.m.), Pullen (11 a.m.), Gordon, James (11:30 a.m.) and McLeod (11:55 a.m.).

Depending on semi-final results, several Jamaicans could line up in the girls' 100m final (12:15 p.m.), 110m hurdles (12:30 p.m.) and the boys' 100m final (12:24 p.m.).