Smikle

Two years ago Calabar's Traves Smikle made his intentions clear when he gave the country its first medal in throwing events, at the global level, when he struck bronze in the discus throw at the World Youth Championships in Brixen, Italy.

Since then, there has been no turning back for the former Calabar High athlete. The past year has seen him in top form, making it a habit to break the national junior record in the event. At the Junior Pan Am Championships in Miramar, Florida, Smikle proved his worth once again as he struck gold with a record throw of 66.58 metres. The athlete ended the year as the top junior in the world following his mark of 66.88 metres, done in March this year. He in fact ended the year with the two best throws over the distance at the Pan Am Championships placing him at number two.

Smikle's teammates at Calabar, Fredrick Dacres and Ashinia Miller, also made it a wonderful year for Jamaicans in throwing as they both had good results overseas. Dacres who was third to Smikle at the Junior Pan Am Championships got the better of his teammate at the World Youth Championships in Lille, France when he picked up the gold medal in the discus throw, with a world youth-leading distance of 67.05 metres.

Miller closed off a fine year for his coach Julian Robinson, and the country, as he picked up the gold medal in the shot put at the Junior Pan Am Championships with 19.97 metres.

It was also an outstanding year for Green Island High's Odail Todd who kept Jamaica's winning trend on the world stage, by claiming the male 100 metres title. With top men Jazeel Murphy and Odean Skeen having to miss the 100 metres at the World Youth Championships due to injury, he took the opportunity to put his name in the record books by winning the boy's 100 metres in 10.51 seconds. He went on to capture his second medal of the meet after picking up silver in the 200 metres in 21.00 seconds.

Chanice Porter of Manchester High, Chrisann Gordon of Holmwood Technical, Christania Williams of Edwin Allen High along with the Vere Technical duo of Olivia James and Shericka Jackson, were among the outstanding girls, with all picking up individual medals at international meets.