The afternoon session of the Rio Olympics saw the track and field program in full flight. Excitement and jaw dropping moments, filled the main athletics stadium, as champions showed why they are champions and those gunning for that label, in some cases stepped up to the plate.
Caribbean athletes were not to be out done, as they all stepped out with pride and the hopes of many persons on their minds.
The lone Caribbean hopeful in the shot-put women’s final, Trinidad and Tobago’s Cleopatra Borel, finished in 7th position, her best position at this level, with her best mark being 18.37m. Borel improved with every round, throwing 18.05m and 18.24, before registering her best mark.
“I’m happy. It’s my best outdoor finish ever, so I am happy to go out with my best performance,” said Borel.
“I think that (18.37m throw) was all that I had today,” added the Trinidad and Tobago national record holder.
Undoubtedly the experience would have been one of sheer excitement and pride for her and all the other athletes who competed in these two events, as they would have trained long and hard and have made their country proud.
Demar Forbes of Jamaica, Tyrone Smith of Bermuda and the little known, Aubrey Smith also of Jamaica, entered the long Jump, being confident that they will be able to make the finals.
However, the Jamaican Demar Forbes was the most impressive finishing 12th in the qualifying round, posting 7.85m to clinch the final qualifying spot to the final. Forbes put together a fairly good series, also leaping 7.86m and 7.62m.
Tyrone Smith of Bermuda finished his series with his best jump. But, he was out of a qualifying position, jumping 7.81m, getting great height and seeming technically sound, was unable to make get the distance needed to get in to the final 12.
Smith failed to make a mark in the event and as such, that would have ended his campaign, in what would have still been a life changing experience.
