Smith looking to make amends for Worlds failure
Tyrone Smith will be looking for redemption in Sweden this week after his poor performance at the IAAF World Championships in Russia last weekend.The Island’s top long jumper failed to the make the final, one of a handful of goals he set for himself for the Championships.Smith will be competing in the DN Galan Diamond League meet, in Stockholm Stadium in Stockholm, which kicks off today.Competing there will be the same athletes who were in Russia, including the three medallists, — an added incentive for Smith.“I’m looking for redemption in Sweden, let’s go,” said Smith.“I felt amazing and I still do so. I’m really looking forward to having some fun at this meet. It’s the first Diamond League meet I’ve got all year and I’m excited to finally be back in the top level of competitions.“All three medallists will be here and everyone else with the exception of myself and the Swedish jumper were in the final.“All in all the whole field was either in this year’s world championships final or last year’s Olympic final.”Smith gave an honest assessment of his recent performance at the Worlds, where Bermuda’s Arantxa King also failed to reach the women’s long jump final.He finished 13th overall, although he felt ‘amazing’ before and during competition.Admitting he didn’t perform to the standard he set for himself, the Bermudian made no excuses as to what or who was to blame.“I failed to perform so I didn’t deserve it (to make the final),” added Smith. “It didn’t take much to make the final, I just wasn’t sharp on the board that day.”Smith’s top leap of 7.89 metres equalled the jump of Ignisious Gaisah from the Netherlands in Group A, but Gaisah had other leaps of 7.85m and 7.78m, thus allowing him to advance to the final.His issues stem from his approach which saw him jumping way behind the board.“I failed to execute my approach and had two jumps from behind the board. I had one jump where I jumped ten centimetres behind the board and another that was 30 centimetres back, which is a long distance.“I was the first man out of the final on countback and I should have never let it come to that. I just didn’t execute and that is one tough pill to swallow.”