Sports minister hails Diamond winner Dacres

Sport Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange has praised Fedrick Dacres for winning of the 2018 Diamond League Trophy for discus in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday.

Grange said his accomplishment highlights the progress that Jamaica's field athletics has made in international track and field competition.

"Not only has Dacres performed well throughout his career, he has been having a wonderful season in 2018 and it was predictable that he would score big time," she said. "When he won the first ever Diamond League Trophy for a field event by a Jamaican, he did just that."

"In winning the Diamond League trophy, Dacres is also showing other field athletes what is possible with hard work and dedication and that Jamaica is capable of being much more than 'The Sprint Factory'.

Grange said that the Government would be moving to improve the physical infrastructure to support and advance field events.

She praised the other athletes who participated in the IAAF Diamond League meet saying that: "All we require of you is that you put your best foot forward for yourself and your country, whenever you take to the field or the track."

Dacres claimed the title with a best throw of 68.67m on his first attempt, which also proved to be his season's best. Silver went to Lithuania's Andrius Gudzius, who threw 67.56m, and Daniel Stahl of Sweden was third with 66.74m.

After the event, Dacres said he was pleased to win despite how little he competed this season.

"I didn't have the opportunity to compete much this year, yet I felt pretty comfortable tonight," he said. "The 30-second rule indeed gives us an extra challenge, you don't get the chance to really get into the competition. But it's okay, next year another DL win."