WORLD Youth bronze medallist Travis Smikle and his Calabar teammate Chad Wright on the weekend registered automatic qualifying marks for the IAAF World Junior Championships set for Moncton, Canada in July, at the Big Shot Invitational.

Smikle, who last summer became the first Jamaican to win a discus medal at the world level at IAAF Youth Championships in Italy by throwing 61.22 metres, produced 55.86m (1.75KG) to breach the World Junior qualifying standard of 54.00m on Saturday on the St Hugh’s High School Campus in Kingston.

Wright also surpassed the qualifying standard with his best mark of 55.46m to place second behind Smikle, who is the national junior record holder with 57.18m (1.75KG). Smikle established that record last summer while winning the bronze medal at the Pan American Junior Championships in Trinidad and Tobago.

Of note, the Class One record at the GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships is 51.43 also held by Smikle, so fireworks are expected in the event at the 100th staging

set for March 24 to 27 at the

National Stadium.

Smikle was not the only person who sounded a warning for ‘Champs’ 2010 at the Big Shot Invitational, as Carifta Games Under-20 discus champion Candicea Bernard of St Hugh’s produced 13.43m (4KG) and 46.42 (1KG) to win the Class One shot put and discus events, respectively. Both marks are better than the current ‘Champs’ records of 12.80m set by Micara Vassell of St Hugh’s last year, and 45.13m established by Holmwood Technical’s Salcia Slack in 2008.

Other notable performances at the Big Shot Invitational Throwing meet came from Oshaine Chambers of Calabar, who posted 47.98m (1.5KG) to win the Class Two discus and Roshaine Byfield, who returned 15.41m (5KG) to top the Class Two shot put.