KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica College’s Joseph Salmon produced a massive national junior and Champs record of 67.55m to retain the boys Class 1 discus throw gold medal at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on Thursday.

He broke the previous Jamaican Under-20 and Champs Class 1 record of 66.88m, set in 2011 by Traves Smikle, then of Calabar High after coming into the competition as the fourth best Jamaican of all time.

Salmon was ranked 19th all-time at the start of the day and ended at number eight all-time and at the top of the Jamaican charts, passing Roje Stona— 66.41m, Ralford Mullings— 66.68m and Smikle.

Calabar High’s Kamari Kennedy threw a personal best of 60.84m to take the silver medal while Munro College’s Rajeem Streete also produced a lifetime best of 59.13m to take the bronze medal.

Salmon produced a brilliant series as he moved into the top eight all-time in the world and extended his World Under-20 leading mark as he came into the championships with 66.32m, which he threw at the Jamaica College meet in January.

He threw 66.33m to take the lead in the first round, then broke the Jamaican record with 67.35m in the second round, which made him the ninth best in the world, then threw 65.18 and then fouled his fourth round throw.

Salmon then extended his record to 67.55m in the fifth round and ended with 66.59m.

— Paul A Reid