Thursday, August 8, 2024

22 THE STAR SPORTS • Thursday, August 8, 2024 @JamaicaStar www.facebook.com/JamaicaStar • www.jamaica-star.com DANIEL WHEELER STAR Writer PARIS, France: T hanks to the tutelage of former Olympic champion Ryan Crouser, Roje Stona now has the distinction of joining the same club with history made for Jamaica. Stona claimed Jamaica’s first major global men’s discus title in an Olympic record performance of 70 metres to win Jamaica’s first gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania was second with a throw of 69.97m, while Australia’s Matthew Denny took bronze with 69.31m. History was already made before the final with Stona’s Jamaican teammates Ralford Mullings (65.61m) and Traves Smikle (64.97m), who finished ninth and 10th, respectively, also in the final. Never before have three Jamaicans made an Olympic final in the event. Stona’s fourth throw drew celebrations from both Smikle and Mullings on the field, as well as the United States of America’s (USA) Crouser, who has been coaching Stona to this moment. “You know that Ryan Crouser is already a great guy. He is the greatest shot putter of all time. To work with him it has been a really good feeling. I’m just looking forward to what the future has,” Stona said. Stona credited Crouser’s belief in his abilities from the start, as his Olympic debut translated to Jamaica’s first ever major global title in the event. It is the first time a non European has won the event since 1976. “He was just celebrating. But he knew what I was capable of. We have been training all year. He came and executed, I came and executed. It was the perfect championship,” Stona said. With five medals acquired, four of them in the field, when asked if Jamaica is now a field events country Stona had no doubts. “It’s always been.” Jamaica’s field competitors continued to take centre stage at these Games, as Romaine Beckford qualified for the men’s high jump final after finishing eighth in qualifying. Beckford’s jump of 2.24m was enough to make him Jamaica’s first Olympic finalist in the event in 68 years. Meanwhile, it will be a Jamaica vs USA showdown in today’s men’s 110m hurdles final as all three Jamaicans advanced from their semi-finals yesterday. Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Broadbell and Orlando Bennett won their respective semifinals, while reigning Olympic champion Hansle Parchment advanced as a non-automatic qualifier. Reigning World champion Grant Holloway of the USA, as well as his countrymen Freddie Crittenden and Daniel Roberts all progressed to the final. Jamaica will be bidding for a third straight Olympic title. Bennett, who ran a personal best of 13.08 seconds, was confident of Jamaica’s chances. “My main aim is to make the podium. I am not here to participate. I am going to choose Jamaica always. We can come out here, we can do it. It’s all in God’s hands,” Bennett said. It was a disappointing outing for Jamaica’s women in the 400m, as all three failed to advance to the semi-finals. The most shocking result was world leader and national champion Nickisha Pryce finishing fourth in 50.77 seconds, her time not fast enough to progress. Junelle Bromfield and Stacey Ann Williams finished eighth and seventh, respectively. Reigning World 100m hurdles champion Danielle Williams, national champion Ackera Nugent and Janeek Brown all secured places in the semi-finals of the 100m hurdles after successful qualifying performances in their first round heats. Williams won her heat in 12.59, while Nugent won her heat in 12.65. Brown was third in her heat in 12.84. Stona breaks Olympic record to claim nation’s first gold in Paris Roje Stona (left) and coach Ryan Crouser celebrating the athlete’s Olympic record-breaking gold in the men’s discus final. G ladstone t aylor P hotos Roje Stona of Jamaica competing in the Paris Olympics men’s discus final at the Stade de France in Paris, France yesterday. SPONSORED BY