Traves Smikle wins event in Texas in first competition since 2024

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Two-time Commonwealth Games medalist Traves Smikle kicked off his competitive schedule for 2026, throwing with a 65.75m to win the men’s discus throw at the Bobcat Invitational at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, on Thursday.Smikle, who was 10th at the Olympic Games in Paris, France, in 2024, missed all of the 2025 season with an injury and only took three throws on Thursday.The NACAC champion in 2022 fouled his opening throw, then threw 65.75m and 64.43m to win the event easily.Rajay Hemmings of Iowa Western Junior College won the men’s B final with 53.09m, leading from the first round.Nathan Wade of the University of Louisiana Monroe was second in the men’s long jump B with a wind-aided 7.76m (3.4m/s).-Paul A Reid