Smith hammer victor

Press, 28 July 1986, Page 19

Smith hammer victor

From ROD DEW

A 24-year-old electrician, David Smith, of England, became the first gold medal winner of the track and field competition when he achieved a winning distance of 74.06 m in the hammer at the Meadowbank Stadium early yesterday morning. Smith recorded his top throw in the fifth round, although his opening distance of 72.12 m and four others of his throws would have been good enough for victory. Afterwards, to the amusement of the

crowd, Smith took himself off on a lap of honour of the track — a rather unusual action for a field athlete.

“It was my decision. I really enjoyed it. This was my day,” he said. The runner-up was Martin Girvan, of Northern Ireland, who got away to a dreadful start, fouling his first two throws and then having to make a qualifying throw to keep in the competition. He achieved a modest 65.24 m and gained his silver performance of 70.48 m on his fourth attempt.

Girvan, the Commonwealth record holder and silver medallist at Brisbane, said he knew there were people who wanted him to fail his third throw and be forced out of the contest. “I have been in that position before, and I knew what to do,” he said. The bronze medal went to an Australian, Philip Spivey, who moved up from fifth place with his last-round throw of 70.30 m to beat another Englishman, Michael Jones, by 30cm.