Smikle - File

Dacres

Former Calabar teammates Traves Smikle and Fedrick Dacres seem poised to make waves in the boys' discus event which gets under way on Friday, the opening day of competition at the Junior Pan Am Championships in Miramar, Florida.

Over the past few years, both have put the country on the map in throwing events. Smikle in 2009 was the bronze medallist at the World Youth Championships, to give the country its first medal in the event at the global level.

struck gold

Dacres went two places better a few weeks ago when he became the country's first gold medal winner at a global meet when he struck gold for Jamaica at the World Youth Championships in France.

Two years ago at the Junior Pan Am Championships, Smikle was also a bronze medallist.

Smikle is the big favourite going into the Championships, as his season and personal best of 66.81 metres done at the Boys and Girls' Championships in late March, which is also a National Junior record, has him as the top seed in the event.

Although throwing 67.05 metres for a World Youth leading throw to win in France, the implement used by Dacres has a weight of 1.500 kg compared to Smikle's implement, which is 1.750 kg.

Both athletes are very confident going into the Championships and Smikle, despite being the favourite, is wary of his teammate.

tag of favourite

"I welcome the expected great competition from Fedrick (Dacres) because this will help to motivate me and I am happy for him. We had a plan. I told him before he left for World Youth that he should try and go two places better than what I did and he came through," said Smikle.

According to the athlete, the tag of favourite going into the Championships does not bring added pressure.

"Being number one means that I have a responsibility to deliver on the day, and I am not worried about Fedrick because there are also other good competitors from the United States, Cuba and Mexico who will be competing. All I have to do is to keep my composure and remain focused and I will deliver."

Coming off a high from the World Youth Championships, Dacres knows that it will be a tougher competition this time around, but he is still very confident.

"I am pretty confident, coming off a win at World Youth, and my technique has improved a lot. I am very confident that I can do something special at Junior Pan Am," said Dacres.

"Traves (Smikle) and I are teammates at Calabar and we know about each other, and competing with him at this level is very good. If I was to beat Traves it would be great for me because this is not a boy thing," said Dacres, who has great respect for his throwing partner.

Dacres spoke about his achievement in the event despite his small body structure.

"What I lack in strength my coach teaches me to make up for with my speed, and that is what makes the difference over the other athletes," stated Dacres, who is hoping that both himself and Smikle can give the country 1-2 in the event on Friday.