Roje Stona, Jamaica’s Olympic discus champion who created history in Paris this summer with a record-breaking throw of 70m, is contemplating a surprising career shift to the NFL. The 25-year-old, who became the first Jamaican to win Olympic gold in the shot put, is exploring the possibility of trying his hand in American football, a sport he has little experience in but significant curiosity about.

Prior to the Paris Olympic Games, the former Ruseas and St Jago High School student and Clemson University and University of Arkansas alumnus took part in NFL rookie training camps with the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. Though unfamiliar with the game—he donned a football helmet for the first time during these sessions—Stona is intrigued by the opportunity to translate his athletic prowess to the football field. "If there’s like a 99 percent chance that I’ll make a team, then, obviously, I’ll go for it,” Stona shared in an interview with CNN Sport, acknowledging the risk to his athletics career, "but if it’s like one or two, though, I got to be realistic."

Having initially been inspired by Usain Bolt's Olympic gold at Beijing 2008, Stona gravitated toward athletics after a youth spent exploring various sports, including soccer, his first love. It wasn’t until high school that he found his true calling in track and field, particularly the discus throw. "I yanked it, it just dropped right out of 20 meters," he recalled of his first experience with the discipline.

Stona’s path to Olympic glory was further shaped by his collegiate career in the United States. At Clemson and later at the University of Arkansas, he was mentored by Ryan Crouser, a three-time Olympic shot put champion. Crouser’s guidance during Stona’s final year of collegiate eligibility instilled in him the confidence to push his limits, ultimately leading to his standout performance in Paris.

While his NFL aspirations remain in the exploratory stage, Stona is taking a calculated approach. With the NFL season already underway, he plans to prioritize rest and recovery after a demanding athletics season but admits his interest is piqued. "Everywhere I go, people don’t ask, ‘Hey, you’re a discus thrower?’ No, people don’t ask that!" Stona joked. “Especially in the States, they ask, ‘Do you play football?’”

Stona’s next steps will involve discussions with agents and coaches to assess the feasibility of an NFL career. "As soon as I get advice from agents and coaches, that will put me in a better position to make a very important decision or just be more decisive if it’s worth it or not,” he said. “If that part leads me there, then I’m going to give it my all because it’s kind of now or never. I’m curious as to what I can do on the field, and if I end up playing in the NFL, that would be a part of my legacy – I’d love to do that.”

The Jamaica Track & Field Coaches Association has announced that esteemed track and field coaches Maurice Wilson, Kerrylee Ricketts, and Corey Bennett are among several coaches who will be honoured on November 15, 2024, as part of the annual National Coaches Day celebrations. The awards recognize long-standing service and contributions to the development of Jamaican athletics, with categories acknowledging coaches' years of dedication and impact on the sport.

The awards, presented across five categories, celebrate the longevity and influence of track and field coaches in Jamaica. The categories include the Silver Award (20-25 years of service), Gold Award (26-30 years), Platinum Award (30-40 years), Lifetime Achievement Award (over 40 years), and the prestigious Master Coach Award. The recipients of these awards were selected by a committee from nominations submitted by members of the Association.

Wilson, a veteran coach with decades of experience guiding athletes to the highest levels of international success, will be presented with the Platinum Award. Joining him in this category are notable figures such as Bertland Cameron, John Mair, Locksley Anderson, Richard Derby, Patrick Johnson, and Clarence Greenfield. Wilson has been a pivotal figure in the development of numerous Olympic and World Championship athletes, and his continued excellence in the field is well-regarded across the sporting world.

Bennett, known for his exceptional work with youth athletes and his contributions to the success of Jamaica’s junior programs, will be awarded the Gold Award. Bennett's influence has extended across multiple levels of the sport, from high school to the international stage, helping to cultivate the next generation of Jamaican track and field talent. Alongside Bennett in the Gold Award category are Lloyd Clarke and Hamlin Pagon.

Ricketts, another influential coach known for developing world-class jumpers, will be honoured with the Silver Award for his contribution to the sport. Ricketts has been instrumental in shaping athletes who have represented Jamaica with distinction in regional and global competitions. Joining him in receiving the Silver Award are Joyclyn Gibson, Marlo Kinghorn, Milton Seargeant, Megan Wilson-Copeland, Marsha Simpson-Montaque, and Gavin James.

The awards ceremony, which will take place under the theme "The Coach: Developing, Empowering and Enriching Athletes," will also honour four coaches with Lifetime Achievement Awards, including Mike Ollivierre, Victor “Poppie” Thomas, Leacroft Bolt, and Raymond “KC” Graham. These veteran coaches have each contributed more than 40 years of service to Jamaican athletics, playing pivotal roles in nurturing talent and elevating the nation's track and field reputation on the world stage.

Additionally, American coach Ryan Crouser will receive the Hector-Smith Master Coach Award for his guidance of Jamaican athlete Roje Stona to a historic gold medal in the men’s discus at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This award is named in honor of the late Jamaican coaching legends Edward Hector and Eldemire Smith.

 The Jamaica Track & Field Coaches Association, recognized internationally and endorsed by both the JAAA and World Athletics, has held this annual event since 2022 to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of coaches across all levels of track and field. National Coaches Day, declared by the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Linton Allen, on September 27, 2022, serves as a day of recognition for coaches' involvement in athlete development and their significant role in shaping Jamaica’s national psyche.

Jamaican shot putter Rajindra Campbell made more history at the Ivan Ivancic Memorial in Zagreb on Saturday.

The 28-year-old, who became the first Jamaican to medal in a throws event at the Olympic Games with his bronze medal in Paris, established a new national record of 22.31m to finish third at Saturday’s meet behind American Olympic and World champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser who threw a meet record 22.93m to win and Payton Otterdahl who threw 22.46m in second.

Campbell opened his competition with 21.05m before going down to 20.61m in the second round.

He then signaled his intent for a big throw with 21.56m in round three before unleashing his national record-breaking throw in round four.

He fouled his next two attempts which didn’t matter as no one else was able to eclipse his mark.

Campbell broke his own previous national record 22.22m done in Madrid last year.

Despite producing only two legal throws, national record holder Rajindra Campbell made history in the Men’s shot put final at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, becoming the first Jamaican man to win an Olympic medal in a throwing event.

The 28-year-old began Saturday’s final at the Stade de France with a 20.00m in the first round before producing a brilliant 22.15m in the second round to move into second behind American World record holder and back-to-back Olympic champion Ryan Crouser who was leading with 22.69m.

In rainy conditions, Campbell was in the silver medal position before the sixth round when American Joe Kovacs produced 22.15m to move into second by virtue of his second-best throw, 21.71m, being better than Campbell’s.

The Jamaican had a throw in the sixth round that would’ve seen him reclaim silver had it not been a fourth foul in a row.

In the end, Campbell settled for bronze behind the two Americans. Crouser’s final winning distance was a season’s best 22.90m.

What started out as a dream debut for Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell, ended in disappointment, as he was unable to express himself in the men’s shot put final on Saturday’s opening day of the World Athletic Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Campbell, the Jamaican national champion and record holder at 22.22m, made the final with a mark of 20.83m on his third attempt during qualifying, but again struggled to get going.

However, unlike he did in qualifying, Campbell was unable to recover and failed to register a mark when it mattered most.

The event was won by American defending champion Ryan Crouser, who launched the instrument to a Championship Record 23.51m on his final attempt to stamp his authority on the event. He had earlier registered 22.98m in the second round, which already had the gold medal won.

Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri, with a new personal best 22.34m, snatched silver from the other American Joe Kovacs (21.59m).

You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.

Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell is off to a dream start on debut, as he secured his spot in the men’s shot-put final on Saturday’s opening day of the World Athletic Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Campbell, who earlier this year became the first Jamaican man to go beyond 22m when he launched the instrument to a national record of 22.22m, took his time to get going in Group A of qualifying, but eventually found his rhythm.

Though he missed the automatic qualifying mark of 21.40m, Campbell’s 20.83m on his third attempt, was good enough to make the final as it ranked him 10^th across the two groups.

Prior to achieving the mark which placed him sixth in his group, the 27-year-old Campbell, opened with an underwhelming 19.83m and registered no mark on his second attempt.

Campbell rued a lack of warm up and the wet conditions for his slow start.

"I didn't get through the complete warm up, the rain poured so I didn't get to warm up around the back because there was lightning and all that, so I came out here and tried to force it. the ring was very slippery, so that caused a lot of downhill performance today, but as we progressed the ring got dryer and I could actually feel the grip and that is how the last one came together," the vibrant thrower shared.

While his national record ranked him fourth coming into the championships, Campbell remains grounded where his medal prospects are concerned.

"Honestly, I don't want to start getting into that right now because later on (the final is to come). So, the job is not done yet, for now I am holding it together, I want to get some food in my system, take a nap and then I will be back," he said.

"It is a level playing field...that's the thing about competition, anything can happen on the day. So, I am confident in myself, I believe when it is necessary, I can pull something together just like I did with this last throw. It's something I have been doing consistently all season, so anything is possible," Campbell added.

Brazil’s Darlan Romani headlines the finalist with a big season’s best of 22.37m. The big American pair of two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs (21.59m) and Olympic Champion Ryan Crouser (21.48m) are also in the mix for the final scheduled for later this evening at 1:35pm Jamaica time.

You can catch live action of the 2023 World Athletic Championships by downloading the Sportsmax App.

Jamaica’s Olympic 100m and 200m champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah and the USA’s Ryan Crouser have been named 2021 Female and Male Athletes of the Year for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association.