Salmon can deliver Jamaica’s third discus gold at World U20

JAMAICA will be hoping to capture a third gold medal in the men’s discus at next week’s World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and Joseph Salmon could make that dream come true.

After 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, Kai Chang repeated the feat six years later in Tampere, Finland, winning with 62.36m.

Heading into Oregon next week, Salmon could hand the country its third title in the event as he enters the championships as the world leader with a massive throw of 67.55m. He 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 has captured back-to-back Class One discus titles at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, while also winning gold at the Penn Relays and the Carifta Games. He 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, who will attend the University of Nebraska this fall on an athletic scholarship, appears well positioned to go all the way in Eugene and finish his junior career on a high.