Despiro Wray competing in the Boys U20 Shot Put final during the Carifta Games at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Monday.TTGameplan photo
Kingston College’s Despiro Wray, who threw a massive 20.87m to win gold in the shot put at the Penn Relays on Thursday morning, says he is looking forward to the challenge at the tertiary level.
Wray had an impressive series of throws, all over the 20 meter mark, to take gold in Philadelphia — starting with 20.31m, then 20.36m on his second attempt before concluding with 20.40m and then 20.67m on his final attempt after two fouls in the middle.
He was the first Jamaican winner at the Penn Relays, which continued his remarkable streak of victories that included ‘Champs’ and Carifta Games gold.
“It’s been a very good season so far. I can’t complain,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
“Winning the boys Class one shot put at Champs was really good. Then moving on to Carifta, getting the gold medal and now here at Penns, getting a gold medal once again, which feels really good,” added Wray, who was the male captain of Jamaica’s team ream to the Carifta Games.
Wray had announced himself earlier this season on February 28 with 20.23m at the Carifta Trials. He threw 19.66 for gold at Carifta and 18.96 at Champs using the 6.00 kg put.
At Penns, the shot put is lighter (5.45kg) relative to the 6.00kg international junior weight. But it has been a remarkable set of results for the KC student in his final year.
“I’d like to thank my coach, my aunt, you know KC always there with me. Its the 100th year so I have to do everything right. So it has been really good,” Wray explained.
Wray pointed out that he will be now preparing for the national trials later this year.
“Next is any more trials that Jamaica has, you know, to make as much team as possible, then move on to the collegiate level and we see where we go from there,” he added.
-HW