Discus champion Hall aiming for four-in-a-row

Discus thrower and reigning national champion Samantha Hall says she is aiming to capture her fourth consecutive title when she takes the field at the JAAA/Puma National Junior and Senior Championships this weekend.

Following her first national title which she won in 2021, Hall has yet to taste defeat at the senior championships, having gone on to defend her title in 2022 and 2023 as well.

The three-time champion said she is looking to add another jewel in her crown as she hopes for yet another stellar display.

"My goal for the national championship is to gain my fourth title. This will showcase my consistency and dominance in the discus event," she said.

Hall has been in fine form this year and she is currently the highest ranked Jamaican in her event. Her season's best effort of 62.12 metres is just shy of her personal best best of 63.94m which she set in 2021.

Hall is expected to face strong competition for national record holder Shadae Lawrence, who is the second ranked Jamaican this season with her season's best of 61.02m.

Despite her good form, Hall said her preparations for the championships have been hampered due to the lack of competitive discus meets in Jamaica.

"There is hardly any women's discus competition in Jamaica, it has been an annoyance to me as they only provided one competition per month but it didn't let stop me from achieving my goal," she said.

According to Hall, her preparation has been geared towards getting in the best shape possible ahead of her event.

She said with her experience as three-time champion, she knows what it will take to succeed.

"My training involves a combination of physical training, mental preparation, and strategic planning," she explained. "As a three-time champion, I'm likely to have a well-established training routine focusing on strength, technique, and endurance specific to the discus event."

She added, "Mental preparation, such as visualising successful throws and staying focused under pressure is also crucial for peak performance at the championships."