Joseph jumps to double gold at WCSG
It was a storybook ending to Scott Joseph’s hometown track and field career as he won two gold and one silver medal at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games in Swift Current.
Joseph left an enduring memory on his home track on Saturday when he came from well out of the medals to win the Long Jump on his final attempt with a 6.55-metre effort to clinch his third medal.
“It feels good,” said Joseph of his second gold medal. “Honestly I wasn’t expecting it after my couple attempts. I wasn’t expecting to get gold.”
“I was just thinking run it through, it doesn’t matter if I fault or not, at least I know I tried. Just run through and jump it, that’s what was going through my head,” he said of his final attempt.
Joseph had won a pair of medals only minutes apart on Thursday evening.
He opened his Games with a gold medal in the Triple Jump with a top leap of 13.88 metres.
“It felt really good. At first I was kind of frustrated. I got my coaches to get me in the right mindset. It was really good that they helped me get through it.”
Joseph said he was unsure how he would fare in the Triple Jump.
“Honestly I didn’t have that confidence. I wish I did, but knowing that I won it actually makes me feel good. It just makes me feel that I need to be more confident in myself.”
He was third heading into the Finals and registered his medalwinning jump on his second last attempt to edge teammate Logan Fettes, who came in at 13.72 metres.
“I was just thinking jump it because I was just faulting, faulting. It doesn’t matter if I fault, I still know I tried,” he said of his final two jumps.
Only minutes later, Joseph ran the opening leg of the 4×100 Metre Relay as Saskatchewan placed second in 41.29 seconds, just behind Alberta’s 41.12 seconds.
“That was really surprising. I know I was pretty tired from the Triple Jump and had to go straight away for the relay. I just had to give all I had knowing that it was the last event of the day. I am very happy we got a silver, that’s pretty good.”
Joseph had a large contingent of fans at his home track to watch him compete.
“I am very humbled honestly having friends and family cheering me on. It really means a lot to me,” he said. “It was really good because you could hear the crowd cheering. I am very humbled by that too as well. It was an amazing experience and I thank them for coming and cheering.”
Joseph said the overall Games experience would be a memorable one.
“This was my first time being at the Games and it feels really good. It was the first time competing against people older than me. Knowing that I can do this kind of stuff makes me feel really good about myself. It’s a really good competition and knowing where I am standing with these guys because these guys are really tough and pushing me. It just feels amazing.”
Joseph was competing against athletes over two years older than himself as he does not turn 18 until late September. He will be running and jumping for the University of Regina Cougars in just a few months.
“It gives me an idea of where I’m standing at and where I need to improve. I like that I am the youngest and I am competing against older people with more experience.”
His gold medal winning jump on Saturday was also a bittersweet moment for the thoughtful 17-year-old.
“That’s kind of sad though. This is where I started track and this is where I kind of finished it for my three years. I am going to miss this place. I might come back and just watch a couple kids, my sister compete. I am going to miss this place, competing on this track. I am going to miss my coaches definitely too.”