Candice throws for the sky

CANDICE SCOTT, the 2003 WITCO Sportswoman of the Year, is aiming to “throw as far as possible” in 2004. She made this pronouncement after she copped the annual award at the Hilton Trinidad on March 5. Scott, a University of Florida student, had an outstanding 2003 season, the highlight of which was a bronze medal in the women’s hammer throw — with a distance of 69.06 metres — at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. While she finished ninth at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Paris with a throw of 67.73 metres, she excelled on the US collegiate circuit, breaking the Trinidad and Tobago record on three occasions.

At the Florida Relays in Gainesville, she set a TT record of 67.99 metres which was bettered by a mark of 68.23 metres at the Penn Relays and, finally, a gold medal throw of 69.79 metres at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships in Sacramento, California. Scott showed her versatility when, a week after her WITCO accolade, she took the 2004 Indoor NCAA shot put gold medal at Fayetteville, Arkansas, with a throw of 23.05 metres. Scott actually started off as a sprinter at Success RC School in Laventille before she was encouraged to compete in field events at Barataria Junior Secondary School and later at Barataria Senior.

Born on September 17, 1980, Scott is the sixth of seven children and has been appreciative of the influence of her family on her success. “They have been supporting me since I’ve been in track and field,” she remarked. Currently majoring in Therapeutic Recreation, Scott, who has endured her fair share of injuries, described last year as “a building year for me.” “I’ve had to start back from square one every time I had surgery,” she acknowledged. “Being able to come out and break these records were a good thing. That shows me that I have the talent and I prove it at the world level.”

While she can be competitive on the stadium field, she can be relaxed and approachable off it. “It’s all in the mind,” she said. “I may not look like I’m competitive, but when I get out there, that is all I can think about.” Instead of contemplating where she went wrong when she falls short of expectations, she uses her setbacks as means of improving in the future. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a heartbreaking experience,” Scott said. “I just take what happened and try and do better the next time.” Scott is currently preparing for the 2004 Athens Olympics in August where she will like to become the first national woman gold medallist at the quadrennial event.