Lloydminster hammer thrower, Jake McEachern, is going for gold at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
The 19-year-old will represent Team Canada from Aug. 27-31 as a medal favourite, ranked 11th in the world for U20 men’s hammer throw.
Olympic hammer excitement
Canada’s Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers won double Olympic gold in their respective men’s and women’s hammer throw events in Paris which had McEachern stoked.
He also met both reigning world champions at the Canadian U20 Championships in Quebec in June when he won gold in the hammer with a toss of 67.32 metres to qualify for worlds.
“I had the pleasure of watching them both at nationals and I got to meet both of them. Being able to watch both of them on the big screen was really inspirational,” said McEachern. “It was awesome.”
His dad, Kevin, a local chiropractor who is treating his son’s shoulder, thinks the Olympic success of Canada in the hammer will ratchet up expectations in Lima.
“I have to think that Katzberg and Rogers have put the spotlight on Canada and specifically Jake,” he said.
The World Athletics U20 Championships are a proven testing ground for Canada’s next wave of track and field stars.
Katzberg was part of the 2021 team, while his fellow Olympic and world hammer throw champion, Camryn Rogers, was part of the 2018 team.
“I think it’s exciting. I think I’m on a pretty good path at the moment,” said McEachern.
He sees Katzberg and Rogers as technical role models who are the best in the world.
Coaches corner
Locally, the Lloydminster Comprehensive High School grad credits Split City Sonics’ coach Karl Meissner with getting him into the sport.
“Karl’s been here since day one. Karl’s the reason I picked up the hammer; he’s why I got to figure all this out. None of this would have been possible without his guidance,” said McEachern.
The teen’s success in the hammer throw landed him a scholarship at Eastern Michigan University. He is in his second year competing in the NCAA.
Katzberg won his Olympic gold with a throw over 84m, but McEachern is eyeing a throw of over 70m as his next distance goal.
“I’m still pretty far off from the Olympics, so the NCAA is my biggest priority until the next point. Until then, I’ll just be keeping in college,” said McEachern.
He says he’s been on the verge of closer to 70m for a few months now.
“Lingering injuries have been keeping me from that, but I’m trying to be conscious of how I train so I can be at full health for worlds,” McEachern said.
“If 70 happens, that would be awesome, if not, I’m still in Peru and that’s pretty good, oh, also win.”
McEachern will fly to Peru on Aug. 23 and his parents will leave on Aug. 25 to watch him.
“It’s very cool. I’m glad they are coming along for the trip. They are the ones that drive me to all of the meets,” he said.
Hammer events and school
McEachern explained the worlds bleed into the first week of school where he is studying biology and trying to figure out a career goal.
“We’re still trying to figure out what we’re going to do with biology, but it’s a STEM degree. It’s a field I find interesting, so I’m sure I’ll figure out something cool,” he said.
He says he probably won’t follow in his dad’s footsteps as a chiropractor, however.
“I’m on the way out of pre-med.” he said.
Read More: Lloydminster athlete aims for gold in hammer throw
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