Jamaica’s Olympic discus champion Roje Stona is preparing for a high-stakes showdown at the 74th Boris Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb, where he aims to cap off his remarkable season with another record-breaking performance against some of the sport’s top competitors.
Fresh from his 2024 Olympic victory in Paris, where he set a record with a 70-meter throw, Stona has been training intensely and is determined to finish the season on a high. “I’m giving this my all since it’s my final competition of the season,” Stona said. “The same elite group from Paris will be here, so I’m expecting a tough competition with some long throws. Weather permitting, I’m aiming to break the meeting record of 68.87 meters. Last week, I managed 67.85 meters, so my goal is to push beyond 68 meters, maybe even more.”
Stona will face stiff competition from former world champion Kristjan Čeh, who has thrown 70.48 meters this year and holds a personal best of 71.86 meters. Čeh won last year’s event in Zagreb with a throw of 68.48 meters and remains a formidable contender for the title.
A local edge
Joining the fray is Australia’s Matthew Denny, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, who has recorded a 69.35-meter throw this season, and American Reggie Jaegers III, with a season-best of 69.16 meters. Croatia’s top discus thrower, Martin Marković, will also be competing, adding a local edge to the highly anticipated event, where throws are expected to surpass the 70-meter mark.
With the competition featuring some of the world’s best discus throwers, Stona’s quest to break the meeting record promises an exciting conclusion to the 2024 season.
