Smith attains Olympic qualifying mark
JAMAICA’S National Record holder Maurice Smith has secured his place in next year’s Olympic decathlon after scoring 8214 points to finish second behind Cuba’s Leonel Suarez in the gruelling 10-discipline event at the 16th Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Smith who holds the National Record at 8644 points, achieved the A qualifying standard for the Olympics 8200 points while the second Jamaican Claston Bernard finished in eighth place with 7246 points, still shy of the B standard- 7950 points.
Smith’s silver medal was the second won by Jamaica on Tuesday evening after Lerone Clarke had won the gold medal in the 100m earlier and Jamaica’s fourth overall.
Smith the 2007 IAAF World Championships silver medalist who was forced out of the event this year in Daegu after just six events due to injuries, turned back the clock with a series of brilliant performances including six season-bests in the 10 disciplines.
