CARTAGENA, Colombia—Discus Thrower Eric "Shaq" Matthias became the record fourth BVI finalist in the 20th Central American and Caribbean Games which wraps up today in Cartagena Colombia, where he was eight overall in his pet event with a mark of 47.87 meters.
Matthias joined 100 meter finalists Dion Crabbe and Tahesia Harrigan and Long Jumper Keita Cline—all of whom have won medals at different levels of CAC Championships competition.
Despite the accomplishment in his major games debut, Matthias was far from being satisfied. “To add upon a disappoint year, it wasn’t as far as even what I’ve been throwing all year,” he said of his 51.64 season’s best that would have bumped him up two places. “Due to lack of training I came up short. It’s an end to a very disappoint year for me. I’m just looking forward to something better next year.”
The Boise State University graduate spent an extra month at school before returning to the BVI, but his training was hampered. Football training camps were in progress and repair work began on his school’s athletic facility. When he returned to the territory, he had no where to train either and lost valuable preparation. “Even though I hadn’t trained for a while, I felt pretty good in the competition, but I lacked the volume of throws and reps even to be a medal contender,” he explained. “And, the field even wasn’t that strong. It’s just tough, but I’ll be back.”
Matthias said he enjoyed his CAC Games experience, met a lot of different people, saw new things, learnt new things and experienced different things. “It’s just a total new life experience for me,” he stated.
With college behind, Matthias said his goal is to get healthy after starting the season hurt—something he has never done. He said it’s extremely difficult to go through something like that and have a positive year. He will rehab his injured right hand, which he throws with. “I was doing some power snatches in the weight room and lost one,” he said of how the injury came about. “I over stretched the muscles a bit and tore some tendons, but, I’m pulling through it.”
