media_artricles :: 2015

Keshorn’s coach predicts ‘something better’

ISMAEL LOPEZ Mastrapa, coach of Trinidad and Tobago’s second Olympic gold medallist, javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott, is pleased with the improvement shown by the 22-year-old, who broke his national record at the IAAF Diamond League Meet in Rome, Italy on Thursday.

Walcott earned a bronze medal with a distance of 86.20 metres, bettering his previous standard of 85.77 which he registered last year.

In a telephone interview yesterday, the Cuban-born Mastrapa commented, “I feel happy of course.

We (were) waiting for that. I was not surprised for him because this year our training has been good.

“He improved a lot from last year,” Mastrapa added.

“That’s why I was not surprised, but we’re waiting for something better.”

Mastrapa noted that Walcott will be aiming to reach peak form ahead of the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada from July 21-26, as well as the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China from August 22-30.

He said, “the World Championships is coming. We are using, for preparation for the World Championships, the Pan Am Games.

We think that he will continue improving if he keeps at it.

He have a little problem with the left ankle but we hope that everything is going to be okay.” But the National Championships are scheduled from June 26-28 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

Mastrapa stated, “he comes back from Europe next week.

We will continue in preparation for the Pan Am (Games) and the World Championships. Of course he will take part in the National Championships.”

With the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil around the corner, Walcott’s coach said, “to keep at that level, he has to compete with the best in the world.

He has to compete at a high level. That’s our goal.

“I was waiting on that ‘jump’ to 86 metres,” he added. “He’s improved on everything from last year.”

Concerning Walcott’s ankle, Mastrapa stated, “the ankle is getting better but elite athletes, they have to deal with those kind of problems. But it’s okay.”

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