Lloydminster athlete Jake McEachern hopes to put the hammer down to win gold at the World Athletics U20 Championships.
The former outstanding Lloydminster Comprehensive High School (LCHS) athlete qualified for the World’s by winning the Canadian U20 Championships in the hammer throw.
His throw of 67.32 metres at the nationals in Montreal from June 26-30 punched his ticket to the U20 World’s to be held in Lima, Peru Aug. 27-31.
He also won his discus and shot put events in Quebec.
The 19 year-old who is in his second year of an athletic scholarship at Eastern Michigan University became a member of Team Canada on his very first hammer throw.
“I wouldn’t say I was too shocked to have won, considering I had the furthest personal best by 8m, but winning meant that I automatically made U20 Team Canada, so I was over the moon in that regard,” said the teen in a text.
He was cheered on at the Montreal meet by his Lloydminster parents Kevin and Marianne.
“It’s always great when my parents can make it out to my meets because their support and presence always gives me an extra level of confidence with my performance,” said Jake.
His dad Kevin who is a chiropractor and his dentist mom, Marianne will also travel to the World’s in Lima.
“It was an unbelievable privilege and honour to watch him win. He did very, very well,” said Kevin who was back at work in Lloydminster.
In his earlier text, from Montreal, Kevin said he and his wife are proud of all their three children’s accomplishments.
“Watching Jake throw at any track meet is great. Watching him win at the Canadian nationals in Montreal is an unbelievable experience,” he said.
Jake won the discus in Montreal with a throw of 49.22m and set a personal best in the shot put at 15.93 m in round six.
“We knew he was the favourite to win hammer throw and discus, but when he won shot put it was hard to describe,” added Kevin in his text.
Jake is back in Lloydminster and will hone his throwing skills at the Sherwood Park Track Classic July 12-14.
“After that, I will be representing Team Alberta at the Western Canada Games Trials in Winnipeg,” said Jake.
That will be his final event while preparing for the World’s.
Jake credits his current success to his Lloyd throw coach Karl Meissner with Split City Sonics and his Michigan coach, Nick Green.
Meissner broke the news on Jake’s accomplishments in Montreal in an online posting.
“Congratulations to Jake McEachern on winning the hammer throw at U20 nationals with a throw of 67.32m,” wrote Meissner.
“By winning and making standard earlier this month, it guarantees him a spot on Team Canada for the U20 World Championships in Lima Peru in August.”
Looking back at his time at the Comp, Jake said, “If I’m being totally truthful, my time at LCHS didn’t really prepare me because even at the provincial level, I didn’t find much for competition.
“Cole Bloxam and Christie Sharp are two coaches from the Comp that undeniably provided me some guidance with my competitions throughout my high school career, so I can definitely say my time at LCHS prepared me in that regard.”
Kevin thinks the Comp right now “is on top of its game and the Split City Sonics that Karl is coach of, is tremendous.”
Related: McEachern throws to 3 gold medals
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