Good signs for Lawrence in discus

Before 2021, no Jamaican woman had ever reached the final of the discus at a major championship. Shadae Lawrence made the breakthrough last year at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, and now with the World Athletics Championships to come in July, she wants a medal.

Lawrence, 26, has already thrown the discus 63.94m this year, and stands at fourth on the world performance list for 2022. There is a formidable trio ahead of her, Tokyo winner Valarie Allman of the USA, Croatia's 2012 and 2016 Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic and reigning World champion Yaime Perez of Cuba.

Lawrence's focus is now to make the Jamaican team to the World Championships and to finish on the podium.

"Definitely want a medal. I know I can do it and I'm really working towards it. So that's what's next for me," she said quietly and with conviction after Velocity Fest 11 on Saturday.

In the face of difficult conditions at the National Stadium, she had just won with a distance of 62.36. She glowed with a bright smile when she stepped out of the circle for the last time, pleased by a job well done under trying circumstances.

"I was having a bit of discomfort due to the rain and my shoes, I wasn't really connecting with the ring," she said. "I'm still impressed that I could get out almost all my throws over 61, so that's impressive."

The winning throw came on the back of a week of heavy weightlifting administered by coach Julian Robinson.

"The day before yesterday," Lawrence recalled, "when we had tests, I was telling Coach I feel extremely tired because the weight programme is so long. So that to know that I'm doing this right now and despite the conditions, it's good signs."

Lawrence threw at the 2016 Olympics during her sojourn at Kansas State University where she won an NCAA title before finishing her eligibility at Colorado State where she set a Jamaican record of 67.05. Her Olympic success came after she began a long distance coaching relationship with Robinson and now she is part of the same local training group as 2019 World Athletics Championships silver medallist Fedrick Dacres.

"I came in September, so I'm seeing the improvements, the consistency. So I don't regret the decision," she said.

Her Tokyo achievement and her presence at home is inspiring younger discus throwers. Among them is Damali Williams, who won the silver in Class One at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships for Edwin Allen High School.

"I admire her a lot," Williams said in February.

Asked to pinpoint why she admires Lawrence, Williams said, "Her dedication, her hard work, and also her drive to succeed."

Lawrence has already surpassed the World Championships qualifying mark of 63.50, but that doesn't mean she will be taking a casual approach to the Jamaican Championships in June.

"I don't take any meet for granted," she asserted.