Joseph places second at Olympic Trials

Scott Joseph STEVEN MAH/SOUTHWEST BOOSTER FILE PHOTO

Scott Joseph placed second in long jump at the Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials in Montreal.

The Swift Current product had a top jump of 7.48 metres to finish behind Damian Warner in the four-man field at the Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard on Friday. Warner hit an opening jump of 7.81 metres to win the event.

Joseph, 19, opened the day with a 7.23-metre jump and then improved to 7.25 metres on his second attempt. He fouled on his third attempt before hitting 7.48 metres on his fourth attempt. Joseph fouled again on his fifth attempt before registering a 5.77-metre jump on his final attempt.

Joseph will not qualify for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics as he did not meet the Olympic standard of 8.22 metres.

Joseph was seeded fourth out of five entries at the Olympic Trials after an incredible rookie season with the Regina Cougars in 2020.

Joseph capped a decorated rookie season with a national title and national record at the U SPORTS Track and Field championship in Edmonton on March 6, 2020. The Regina Cougars rookie won the men’s long jump handily with a top jump of 7.73 metres. Joseph’s incredible debut season was further punctuated when he was named the Canada West and U Sports Male Rookie of the Year.

Joseph was born in Niger and moved to Canada in 2011. His family eventually settled in Swift Current and he competed for the Swift Current Comprehensive High School in grades 10, 11, and 12 before winning gold in the long jump and triple jump and silver in the 4 x 100 metre relay on his home track at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games in Swift Current.