- Throwing duo may compete in just one event each at Jersey 2015 as they chase international ambitions.
- British number one Zane eying World Championships, while sister Shadine seeks qualification for European U23s.
- Both broke Island Games records in the Isle of Wight 2011.
BRITISH number one Zane Duquemin may opt out of the NatWest Island Games discus competition this summer as he continues to push for World Championship qualification.
The 23-year-old, who currently holds both the British outdoor discus and indoor shot putt titles, has said a fixture pile-up in the first week of July could hinder his attempts to qualify for Beijing 2015, with the British trials starting in Birmingham just three days after the Island Games discus final.
Zane Duquemin
Men’s shot putt gold medal – 17.15m (Games record)
Men’s discus gold medal – 56.43m (Games record)
Shadine Duquemin
Women’s shot putt gold medal – 12.21m
Women’s discus gold medal – 45.39m (Games record)
‘I’ve got the Loughborough International this weekend and will be doing shot and discus, but I’ve still not decided for the Island Games,’ said Duquemin, who set new Games records in shot putt and discus at Isle of Wight 2011.
‘Ideally I want to do both, but I’m trying to find out what’s going on with the British trials – that will be the deciding factor.
Following his return from a month’s training in San Diego with some of the world’s top throwers, Duquemin added that technical changes have affected his results of late, but he remains hopeful that a trip to China – and to Rio next year for the Olympic Games – will be on the cards.
‘The competitions weren’t great due to the weather, but I managed to break 18 metres, which puts me number one in the UK, so it’s nice to have that again.
‘It is going to take time before the big throws come. It would be nice to go 18.50m this week then week by week go up 25 cm or so. I want to be throwing 19.50m consistently by the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Duquemin’s sister, Shadine, who is hoping to reach the 54m discus mark set by GB selectors for July’s European U23 Championship in Estonia, is also likely to be fighting on just one front at Jersey 2015.
The 20-year-old won Island Games shot putt gold in 2011, but has since shifted her focus solely to discus – an event in which she broke the women’s Games record four years ago.
‘The 2013 season was my last for international shot,’ she said. ‘I did think about picking it back up but to get serious internationally it requires a lot of work, so I’m just focusing on discus now.’
Asked whether another discus gold, and an improved championship record, was the target for Jersey, the England U23s silver medallist added:
‘That’s the plan. I had a pretty good winter, there were a few little niggles but no serious injuries. I am in between at the moment after changing my style of throwing, so things won’t come together until later in the season, but hopefully by the start of June it will start picking up.’
