PARIS, CMC – Roje Stona of Jamaica created one of the biggest upsets at the Paris Olympics when he stunned the field to win gold in the men’s discus in a new Olympic record.
Stona, who had never medaled at a major international meet, won not only Jamaica’s first gold medal at this year’s Olympics, but also became the first athlete from his country to win Olympic gold in the throws.
In a memorable debut performance, the 25-year-old threw the discus 70.00 metres to shock world record holder Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania (69.97) into second and Australia’s Matthew Denny, who finished third with a throw of 69.31 metres.
His teammates, Ralford Mullings (65.61) and Traves Smikle (64.97), finished ninth and 10th respectively.
Stona’s winning effort came in the fourth round, two rounds after Alekna had broken the Olympic record with his effort.
He is the first non-European to claim the Olympic title in men’s discus.
“It’s a very special night. It’s everything I wanted, but for it to actually happen, it’s a very good feeling,” Stona said after his triumph.
“I’ve done some things that I didn’t know I was capable of doing. But I believed, and I had faith, so I was in the moment and I enjoyed it.
“Jamaica should be proud right now, they should celebrate. Field events are taking a step in the right direction now. We’re doing good, we’re getting medals,” Stona added.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards was metres away from clinching bronze in the men’s 400 metres before falling out of medal contention.
The 30-year-old set a new national record of 43.78 seconds on his way to a fourth-place finish, while Grenada’s Kirani James was fifth in a time of 43.87 seconds.
United States’ Quincy Hall won gold in a personal best time of 43.40 seconds, with Matthew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain second in an area record 43.44 and Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga grabbing bronze in 43.74, a new national record.
But Richards would be disappointed after getting off to a blistering start which put him in second position heading into the home stretch behind Hudson-Smith.
James, the first man to run four times in the 400 metres finals at an Olympics and the first man with three Olympic medals, was also in medal contention with 70 metres to go.
However, Hall produced a remarkable run to pass both runners before Samukonga produced a heroic come-from-behind effort to edge Richards on the line and grab bronze.
Barbados’ World Championship bronze medallist Sada Williams will carry the Caribbean’s hopes of a medal on her shoulders after qualifying for the final of the women’s 400 metres.
Williams advanced to Friday’s final after finishing third in Heat 3 in 49.89 seconds behind Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek (49.45) and Amber Anning of Great Britain, who was second in a personal best of 49.47.
Neither Jamaica’s Stacey Ann Williams, who finished seventh in that heat in 50.79 seconds nor Nickisha Pryce, who was fourth in Heat 2 in 50.77 seconds advanced to the final.
Jamaica will have strong representation in the men’s 110 metre hurdles final as defending Olympic champion Hansle Parchment, along with teammates Rasheed Broadbell and Orlando Bennett all qualified.
Parchment was third in Heat 1 in 13.19 seconds, which was won by American Grant Holloway in a blistering time of 12.98 seconds.
Both Broadbell and Bennett won their respective heats, with the former taking Heat 2 in 13.21 seconds, while Bennett recorded a personal best time of 13.09 seconds on his way to winning Heat 3.
Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert advanced to the final of the men’s triple jump with his effort measured at 16.99 metres.
However, his teammate Jordan Scott failed to advance after jumping just 16.36 metres.
Roshawn Clarke of Jamaica is through to the final of the men’s 400 metre hurdles after placing second in Heat 3 in 48. 34 seconds.
The news was not so good for fellow Jamaicans Malik James King, who finished seventh in Heat 2 in 48.85 and Jaheel Hyde, who was also seventh in Heat 1 in 50.03 seconds.
The Caribbean will have no representation in the men’s 200 metre final, after Wanya McCoy of The Bahamas and Bryan Levell of Jamaica crashed out at the semifinal stage.
McCoy was fifth in Heat 1 in 20.61 seconds and Levell finished eighth in 20.93.
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