Quincy Wilson is keen to make a big impression at Friday’s TnT Elite Twilight Games, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
Wilson recently returned home from a training stint in Cuba. While there, he competed at the Copa Cuba meet, earning silver in the men’s discus with a big 58.65 metres effort--his best-ever season opener.
On Saturday, Wilson was back in action, at the Hurdles and Field Events Festival, at the Crawford Stadium. The 22-year-old thrower won easily, landing the implement 57.20m.
“I went back to the drawing board,” Wilson told the Express, “after competing at the Field Events Festival on Saturday. I’m just trying to sharpen up on some things that messed up in my technique. I’m working hard, and yeah, you could look for something really good from me at the Twilight meet. I’m ready.”
Wilson is the national record holder in the men’s discus with a 59.60m throw. He has no challengers here at home, but is not daunted by the lack of competition.
“I’ve grown accustomed to it, and I just say to myself I have to compete with myself for the while, until I can do better, go out on the world stage and get a lot of foreign meets.”
On Friday, though, Wilson will get the push he desires. Cuba’s Jorge Fernandez is among the throwers listed to compete in the Twilight Games men’s discus event. Fernandez emerged victorious at the Copa Cuba meet with an impressive 62.12m throw, the Cuban field athlete forcing Wilson to settle for the runner-up spot.
Wilson said the Cuba training stint was very beneficial.
“I am satisfied with the work I put in Cuba. I trained really hard, and I’m looking for a lot of results.
“I set goals,” he continued. “I don’t want to put it out there, but I have a lot of goals that I want to achieve. So far, I have accomplished some of them. I’m on track.”
One of Wilson’s 2013 goals is qualifying for the men’s discus final at the World Championships, in Moscow, Russia.
In the long-term, the T&T athlete hopes to follow in the footsteps of a famous Lithuanian thrower.
“My idol is Virgilijus Alekna. I really respect him a lot, and one of my goals is to throw with him. I want to accomplish what he has accomplished, and more. He won two Olympics back-to-back (2000 and 2004), and I want to win three Olympics back-to-back...also World Championships, and I would like to break the world record one day.”
Germany’s Jürgen Schult is the world record holder with a huge 74.08m throw. He established that standard way back in 1986, five years before Wilson was born.
There will be 12 events on the Twilight Games programme, on Friday. Reigning Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott will compete in the main event, the men’s javelin. It will be Walcott’s first outing since his shocking victory at the London Games, last August.
The Twilight Games programme starts at 4.30 p.m., and will also feature entertainment by Kees Dieffenthaller, Blaxx, Olatunji and Cassi. Admission to the covered stands at the Crawford Stadium is $25 for adults and free for children under 12. Admission to the uncovered stands is free.