The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

TARAJH Hudson could have easily followed in the footsteps of his father Oral Hudson as a volleyball player, but he’s excited about notching his own name in the throwing events in the sport of track and field.

Over the weekend at the 18th Star Performances Track Classic at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Hudson inked his name on another Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ junior national record when he won the under-20 boys’ discus.

The Blue Chips Athletics’ representative had a winning toss of 180-feet, or 54.87 metres that replaced the previous junior national record held by Drexel McIntosh of 179-8 (54.78m) that he posted at the BAAA’s junior Nationals on June 12, 2015.

It was the second national record breaking heave by Hudson this year. On March 19 at the Red-Line Athletics Track Classic, Hudson surpassed McIntosh’s old mark of 52-1 1/4 (15.88m) in the shot put with his winning feat of 52-10 (16.10m).

The St Augustine’s College 2020 graduate, however, said he was particularly pleased with his latest accomplishment, which was also listed as a qualifier for the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships.

“It was good. We’re coming down to the end of the local meets, so it’s a good place to be,” said the 18-year-old Hudson. “I still want to improve a little bit more, but to continue to improve and get better each meet is a good thing.”

In his series of throws, Hudson’s best performance came on his fourth attempt, which showed his ability to adjust to the competition and come through in the clutch situation.

“I went into it with a different mindset than I usually do,” Hudson said. “I was just concentrating more on executing the techniques that coach (Corrington Maycock) and I worked on in practice.

“I knew that once I continue to improve on my technique, the distance would come. So I got to the meet and just tried to stay composed until it was time to compete.”

The NACAC Championships is scheduled for , but Hudson said he would have to wait on the BAAA’s ratification or at least until after the National Championships to confirm his spot on the team.

Hudson, however, said the goal wasn’t NACAC, but rather the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in which he would have to throw at least 187-0 (57.00m) to qualify.

“I’ve been hitting the qualifying standard in practice over the last couple of weeks,” he noted. “Saturday wasn’t the best day for discus throwing. We had a head wind, so that affected my throws a little.

“So I have to learn how to deal with those conditions so I can throw even further than I am right now, regardless of the wind and which direction it is going in. But I am pretty close to the qualifying mark.”

Over the next few weeks, Hudson said he will continue to work on his strength with the heavier weights as they go back into the gym to train. He also wants to focus on his technique where he has to utilize the space in the circle on the field.

“I still have a few more inches in the circle where I could use the full eight feet,” he said. “So I am going to be working on the little details in the throw and be ready to improve on my distances.”

Although he was hoping to go to the Carifta Games and turn in another stellar performance for the Bahamas, Hudson said he just has to remain focused on the bigger prize ahead of him.

“I’m not disappointed that Carifta was canceled, but I understand why,” he insisted. “You don’t want to go to the meet and something bad happens in reference to Covid-19.

“Coming into the season, Carifta wasn’t my main goal or the focus, so I feel if it was, I would have been disappointed. But the main focus for the beginning of the season was to try to make the World Junior team and I’m pretty close to it, so I’m not really upset about not going to Carifta.”

At 6ft 4ins, Hudson had all the potential to be an outstanding volleyball player like his father. But he admitted that he fell in love with track and field and the field events, particularly his signature event in the discus.

“I played high school volleyball up to grade nine and a little in grade 10,” he said. “But my father never forced us to stick with the sport, but continued to excel in whatever we wanted to do.

“I don’t think it was a letdown to him that I started to throw because he saw the improvements that I was making. Going into throwing allowed me to create my own path and not so much follow in his footsteps.”

Hudson has two older siblings, Taja and Tarajo, born to parents Taraseta and Oral Hudson, whom he indicated have all been great inspiration to him in his throwing events.