media_artricles :: 2014

Walcott satisfied with Twilight throw

Thompson back on track

Keshorn Walcott is satisfied with his performance in his 2014 season opener, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, on Friday night.

Trinidad and Tobago’s reigning Olympic men’s javelin champion hurled the spear 79.33 metres for an easy victory at the International Twilight Games. Cuba’s Osmani Laffita finished second with a 74.78m effort, while another T&T athlete, teenager Shakeil Waithe bagged bronze, the Carifta Games Under-20 champion throwing 71.15m.

After the competition, Walcott told the Express the ankle injury that dogged him last season now seems to be behind him.

“It’s completely good at the moment, so I’m thankful for that. “I’m pretty satisfied with the competition tonight, (throwing) off of nine strides. This was just my first meet, trying to get into competition mode before the real competition.”

Walcott will next be in action in China on May 18, at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix IAAF Diamond League meet. The 21-year-old thrower is confident of doing well this season, but is not putting any pressure on himself as he works towards his bid for Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow, Scotland.

“I know I’m going to throw far, so I’m just setting goals to make sure I’m healthy.” Richard “Torpedo” Thompson was the class of the International Twilight Games men’s 100 metres field, winning in 10.10 seconds to better his best time in 2013—10.14.

There were clear signs on Friday night that Thompson, who had been battling a hip injury, was returning to his best form.

“It feels as though the first part was a bit of a struggle,” Thompson told the Express. “I didn’t execute the race as well as I would have liked to. However, I was very pleased with the top end speed which shows that my strength is there and it’s just a matter of correcting the technical things in the first part of the race. I’m strong again, healthy, and definitely feel as though I can see very fast times again this year.

“I want to thank the group of people who have been around me, helping me to get healthy again. The Michael Johnson Performance (MJP) Center, Dr Corbin, Dr John in Louisiana, Rick LeFevre who has been helping me with a lot of my exercises. It’s been a long process. Slowly but surely we’re getting back there, so hopefully by Commonwealth Games I can be a lot faster than I am right now.”

Top