DOHA, Qatar — Jamaica’s O’Dayne Richards yesterday crashed out of the IAAF World Athletics Championships shot put competition following his series of throws that yielded 20.07m, which was below the qualifying mark of 20.90m, and finished 12th in Group A.

Richards, who had won bronze at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, had a series of 19.75m, 19.02m and improved to 20.07m but that was not good enough.

“It’s not the distance I was hoping for. I was looking to get the auto (automatic) but unfortunately today wasn’t my day,” said Richards.

“I think my timing was a little bit off. I think my power levels was a little bit too low, so I didn’t get the distance that I wanted,” he theorised.

The stocky thrower, who has a personal best of 21.96m, has been struggling for consistency as following his bronze in 2015, he was eliminated in the first round at the 2017 London Championships with a best throw of 19.95m.

His propensity for throwing or “flinging” objects has propelled Richards into one of the best shot putters in the world. His love for throwing stones, during his years at St George’s College, earned him the nickname ‘Fred’ — a reference to the cartoon character Fred Flintstone.

Yesterday, Richards admitted that things have been rough over the last few years, but said he is working on it in time for the Olympics in Japan next year.

“I have been trying some new things to try to get faster and more powerful. Some of it works, some of it is unfinished work. So hopefully for next year we can get it done,” he revealed.

Pointing to the long athletics season this year, Richards said: “It’s new competing this long, and to try to carry the power levels right throughout the year is quite difficult. So hopefully, if there were ever to be a championship this late, I would be more prepared,” said Richards.

This was one of the best shot put fields ever assembled with nine men in the field recording distances of over 22m. Only four men in the history of the event have won with throws over 22m.

Richards is ranked 13th in the world and has the 17th best throw of 20.93m this season.

Asked if the discipline is getting more difficult, given the increasing number of competitors, Richards said: “Significantly yes. It makes it more difficult for everyone. There are a lot more guys who are throwing 22s. In the past, I have spoken to athletes who competed in the ’80s and they said it was something special, maybe once a year an athlete would go over 22,” said Richards.

“Now, we have guys who are throwing 22 in one single series five times and that’s awesome. Shot put, I think, is on the rise and I think the world should start to pay attention more because sooner or later the world record is gonna go,” he predicted.

He said that given the size of his opponents, he had tried, in the past, to gain more body and muscle.

“I have tried to get as big, get as strong, but that didn’t play into my strengths. My strength is speed. I neglected that for a few years now and I think it’s time I stop messing around and go back to it,” he said.

“It’s very difficult to have a high expectation of yourself and not fulfil that. I would have liked to be continually getting medals and doing well on the big stage. But sometimes you just have to press on. Sometimes learning experiences come with a bad hit.

“I am a bit disappointed, but I have been here before and I know what it takes to come back,” he added.

— Howard Walker