New colours, same gold
Discus thrower Salmon says switch to JC was the right move
Published:Saturday | March 29, 2025 | 12:08 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
Having won back-to-back discus throw gold medals at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs), Jamaica College’s (JC) Joseph Salmon said making the switch from Clarendon College (CC) proved beneficial to his training programme.
Salmon had won the Boys’ Class Two discus title last year wearing the blue and gold of CC, before taking his talents to Old Hope Road.
Despite making the step up to Class One, Salmon repeated his gold-medal winning feat when he took the class one honours with an impressive throw of 62.14 metres.
Salmon was peerless in the final as he broke the 60-metre barrier twice in his six attempts, a feat none of his competitors could replicate.
His fourth throw in the series of 60.09 was enough for the win, but he showed his pedigree as he launched another mammoth effort, recording a winning mark of 62.14.
Salmon was more than pleased with the win as he achieved his target of going beyond 60 metres.
“I feel really good,” Salmon said after his win. “I moved up the ranks, I got more fluent with myself and more fluent with my technique and really pushed my body. So I just came here and delivered.
“Going over 60 metres was something I aimed for. I talked about it in the lead-up weeks back and I came here and did it so I’m very proud of myself,” he added.
Salmon said his switch to JC was made after being inspired by former schoolboy standout Shaiquan Dunn, who had represented the Old Hope Road-based school.
Dunn, who now represents the University of Southern California, was a double champion at Champs last year, winning the class one shot put and discus titles.
Like Salmon, Dunn also made a switch to JC after representing St Jago for much of his high school career.
“I changed schools from Clarendon College to Jamaica College because of one athlete that inspires me, Shaiquan Dunn,” Salmon explained.
RIGHT ENVIRONMENT
Salmon believes making the switch was the right move as it provided him a new and competitive environment to continue his development.
He also explained being a member of the large team of athletes who are annually pushing for the Mortimer Geddes trophy has helped to build his character in the field.
“The environment at JC is very different, it is really vibesy at JC. Being here really builds you because it’s one large team and being around a large team really builds you up and pushes you to just go out there and do your best,” he said.
Salmon said his focus will now be on the Carifta Games in Trinidad and Tobago set to begin on April 19.