Sat | Sep 13, 2025

Big first for discus thrower Hall

Samantha Hall revels in first World Champs final but disappointment in mixed 4x400m heats

Published:Saturday | September 13, 2025 | 12:11 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
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Jamaica’s Leah Anderson, moments after competing in the Mixed 4x400m relay on the opening day of the 2025 World Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
Gladstone Taylor
Jamaica’s Leah Anderson, moments after competing in the Mixed 4x400m relay on the opening day of the 2025 World Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
Samantha Hall of Jamaica reacts to her third attempt in the women’s discus throw qualifications Group B on day one of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. Hall qualified for the final with a throw of 63.32 metres.
Gladstone Taylor
Samantha Hall of Jamaica reacts to her third attempt in the women’s discus throw qualifications Group B on day one of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. Hall qualified for the final with a throw of 63.32 metres.
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Jamaica endured a mixed bag of results in the morning session of day one at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships as Samantha Hall advanced to the final of the women’s discus throw while the mixed 4x400m relay team suffered a disappointing end in their heat.

Hall was beaming with pride at the Japan National Stadium following the preliminaries of the women’s discus throw as she advanced to her first-ever World Championships final.

Following disappointments at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, Hall said third time would be the charm as she was determined to make it into the final 12.

“Last time, yes, I was very disappointed based on the preparation coming into Budapest,” she said.

“This year I told myself that I have to make the final. This is my third World Championships and there’s nothing that should be holding me back. [I] just to get out there and do it.”

Slow start

Hall had a slow start to her series in qualification Group B as she had a foul throw on her first attempt.

She recovered well with her second mark of 60.20 metres but secured her spot in the final on her final attempt, placing 10th overall with a day’s best effort of 63.32m.

Hall explained much of her success can be laid at the feet of her new coach, Olympic men’s shot put bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell.

Joining up with Campbell post the Paris Olympic Games, Hall said she has been enjoying the best year of her career, which included a new personal best, a fourth national title and her first international medal, winning gold at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships.

“I was reassured by my coach after I saw Rajindra Campbell and he was able to relax and remind me what I was supposed to be doing,” she explained.

“He approached me at the Olympics last year after my competition and just took me under his wing.

“So I’m like, okay, I’ll just work with him and I have seen a lot of improvement. I’ve had two PBs. I had my first NACAC Championships so working with him has been tremendous.”

Hall will next target a place in the top six as she prepares for Sunday’s final set for 5:12 a.m. Jamaica time.

BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT

In a contrast of results, Jamaica failed to advance to the final of the mixed 4x400m after a crushing end to their heat.

Drawn in heat one with three of the top five fastest teams this year, Jamaica needed a strong performance to book their spot within the top three automatic qualifiers.

The quartet of Jevaughn Powell, Dejanea Oakley, Zandrion Barnes and Leah Anderson could only register a time of three minutes, 13.96 seconds (3:13.96) to finish eighth in their group.

Defending champions USA took the win in 3:10.18, with Great Britain and South Africa taking the remaining automatic qualifying sports in 3:10.22 and 3:11.16 respectively.

The results also means Jamaica has failed to advance to the final of the mixed 4x400m relay for the second straight World Championships, having failed to advance in Budapest in 2023.