Salmon poised for World U20 gold

JAMAICA will be hoping to capture their third-ever gold medal in the men’s discus at next week’s World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and with Joseph Salmon, that dream could become a reality.
Federick Dacres won Jamaica’s first gold medal in the event at the 2012 Championships in Barcelona, Spain, with a throw of 62.80 metres, followed by Kai Chang, six years later, in Tampere, Finland, who won with 62.36m.
Heading into Oregon next week, Salmon could hand the Jamaicans their third title in the event, with him being the world leader with a massive throw of 67.55 metres. That measurement is more than four metres clear of the second-best thrower, Sten Erik Lor of Estonia, whose season’s best stands at 63.41m.
The past two seasons have been exceptional for Salmon. He captured back-to-back Class One discus titles at the GraceKennedy ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athketics Championships, and will be heavily favoured to remain unbeaten in Oregon.
When he produced his personal best at this year’s ISSA Championships, Salmon also broke the 15-year-old record of 66.88m, set by former Calabar High standout Traves Smikle.
The reigning NACAC Under-23 champion, Salmon will attend the University of Nebraska this fall on an athletic scholarship. He appears well positioned to go all the way in Eugene and finish his junior career on a high.