Dani Samuels was good rather than great, solid rather than spectacular.
The 27-year-old finished sixth in the women's discus at the world championships in Beijing on Tuesday night, her best result in a global major since claiming a shock gold six years ago in Berlin.
Cuba's Denia Caballero blew the competition away with a massive throw of 69.28m in the opening round and was never headed, while reigning Olympic champ Sandra Perkovic from Croatia pocketed the silver with 67.39m on her final throw.
Samuels' best was 63.14m, with four of her other efforts better than 61.45m.
"I think I was trying a bit too hard, I was trying to throw a long way," Samuels said.
"The last one felt better, but in the end it just fell apart.
"It was a really high-quality competition, the Cuban girl came out and threw 69 in the first round.
"I'm disappointed I couldn't get up around the 65 and a half metre mark, which is what it took to take a bronze medal.
"But all in all, I feel like I have come a long way since (the 2013 world championships in Moscow where she finished 10th)."
As consistent as Samuels was, she was unable to match her efforts during the 2015 Diamond League season, where she was almost always on the podium with throws around the 65m mark.
"I felt really powerful, I felt really, really good," she said.
"My arm felt wicked on one of them tonight, but it just didn't happen.
"I guess it was just the rhythm and the timing that was out and then you try and whack it and they don't go that far if everything doesn't contribute."
Share

