By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Camoi Hood - File

REIGNING Carifta Games Boys Under-20 shot put champion Camoi Hood of Bridgeport High is eyeing a popular double at this week's Boys' and Girls' Championships at the National Stadium.

Kingston College's Fabian Morgan and Kimani Kirton have done the Class 1 discus and shot put double over the past two seasons and Hood wants to duplicate their performances.

He is the hot favourite for the shot put but early predictions are that he will be third in the discus, St. Jago's Steve Hammond and Mannings' Hickel Woolery ranked in the first two places. Despite this, Hood remains confident that the gold is not beyond him.

"I am going to do my best. My longest throw this season is 49m while the others Hammond has 53m and Woolery 51m, but I have improved in training.

"I have been up to 52m in warm-ups and I expect to do better at Champs."

At last year's championships Hood was second in the shot put (17.48m), beaten by KC's Morgan (18.32m Champs record) and third in the discus (46.05m), again by Morgan (51.24m) and Hammond (46.12m).

HAMMOND RULES DISCUS

National junior throws coach Michael Vassell said Hammond rules discus, but Hood has improved.

Vassell said Hood is definitely a top three athlete and he anticipates a strong competition.

"The top three will be anywhere between 50-54m and I expect the winner to throw over 53m.

"I am also certain we will have a national junior record," predicts Vassell, one of Kingston College's coaches.

The national junior record is 53.77m, held by Kimani Kirton.

Gold will not be good enough for Hood in the shot put. He wants the record.

"I am coming very hard at Champs for the shot put record," Hood said.

Hood represented Jamaica at last year's Junior CAC Games in Mexico, finishing second in the discus (45.54m) and third in the shot put (16.54m). Woolery won the double (16.66m) and (48.39m).

Vassell said Hood is the man to watch in the shot put.
"Throwing inside the National Stadium is a plus for him," Vassell said.

"I really believe he can throw over 18m. These are people (all throwers) who work very hard and are deserving of more attention.

Vassell believes Hood will be challenged for the shot put title by his Bridgeport teammate Raymond Brown, Hammond and Andre Clarke of Jago and Woolery.

"This is one of the deepest fields we have had in a long while."

So far this season, Hood has had good throws, 17.05m at Douglas Forrest; 16.71m at JC and 17.03m at KC, which justifies his favouritism.

The Bridgeport High fifth former also spoke of his team's chances.

"I am predicting that we will be fifth at Champs. We have a strong all-round team," he said.