Dacres surprises at Big Shot Throwers meet

Photo: Fedrick Dacres of the University of the West Indies inside the discus throwers circle at the Big Shot Throwers Meet at the Excelsior High School in Kingston Jamaica. Dacres threw a record and world leading 66.30m to win the event.

Fedrick Dacres stormed to the top of the international rankings in the discus on Saturday when he produced a fine throw of 66.30m to win the Men’s Open Discus throw at the 11th staging of the Big Shot Throwers Meet at the Excelsior High School in Kingston Jamaica, smashing his own record of 64.36 which he established last year.

The distance gives him both a world lead and automatic qualification to the IAAF World Championships to be held in Beijing, China later this year. The previous world lead was 62.30m done by the Australian Julian Wruck.

The 20 year old who missed the Commonwealth Games last year due to a knee injury which sidelined him for 8 months following surgery, surprised himself with the throw after admitting that he is only in the preparatory phase of his season.

“I came out today and felt good. I have been working hard in the gym, my bench press and my snatch are up so I am feeling much stronger.
“The ring wasn’t ideal, but I feel more powerful and it shows,” he said of his throw.

Dacres was not expecting to be anywhere near his current form after just returning from injury.

“I will just be working hard to compete with the big guys now. I am shocked to have thrown that far,” he admitted. “After coming off of knee injury …my aim was to be back for the 2016 Olympics so I am far ahead and I am happy to be back.”

Dacres, who opened his season with 61.35m at the JC Development Meet earlier this month, was seen jumping into the arms of his coach Julian Robinson after recording the big throw and his coach is also quite pleased with the early season form of his charge.

“What we are doing is preparing for the Olympics, What he has done is brawta. He isn’t throwing under any pressure. He is still rusty and still has a far way to go,” Robinson said.

The University of the West Indies student claimed gold in the event and was followed by teammate Basil Bingham 55.35m while Glenford Watson of GC Foster College placed third with a distance of 52.15m.